WOMAN'S 

HOME BOOK OF HEALTH. 
% Morft 

FOR MOTHERS AND FOR FAMILIES. 

ON A PLAN, NEW, SAFE, AND EFFICIENT. 

SHOWING, IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, HOW DISEASE MAY BE 

PREVENTED AND CURED WITHOUT THE USE 

OF DANGEROUS REMEDIES. 




JNO. STAINBACK WILSON, 

OF COLUMBUS, GA., 

EDITOR OF THE " HEALTH DEPARTMENT" OF " GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK 



Obedience to physiological law brings its own sweet reward. 

Disobedience will surely be followed by the pains and penalties annexed to violated law. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 

1860. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress in the year 1SC0, by 

J NO. STAIN BACK WILSON, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the District 
of Georgia. 



PREFACE. 



Nature and Objects of the Work. — This book 
differs widely from the Private Medical Compan- 
ions, the Mother's Guides, the Woman's Friends, 
and such like, which have been so freely scat- 
tered over the country of late years, with a view 
of coining guilty gain from some worthless nos- 
trum, or some equally worthless and demoraliz- 
ing secret. We would not make any invidious 
comparisons ; but truth, and the cause of sound 
morals, constrain us to say that the main 
object of many medical books for the people is 
to cater to a corrupt taste, and to minister to a 
prurient curiosity, and thus to secure a large 
sale. This crying evil, this almost unpardonable 
wickedness, we have religiously endeavored to 
avoid. The delicate subjects necessarily em- 
braced in a work of this kind are treated with 

the utmost regard for decency and propriety, while 

(iii) 



IV PEEFACE. 

all useless and non-essential revelations are ex- 
cluded. 

The work is intended specially for women, 
and is divided into four parts. Part I. contains 
a brief outline of the Structure and Functions 
of the human body in general ; and more particu- 
larly the Sexual Anatomy and Physiology of 
Woman. Anatomy and Physiology are the cor- 
ner-stones of all medical science ; and without, at 
least, some general knowledge of these, symptoms 
cannot be understood ; directions for the preserva- 
tion of health cannot be comprehended, or appreci- 
ated ; and no rational system of treatment can 
be instituted. What would be thought of a 
woman who should attempt to repair her piano, 
without knowing anything of its mechanism? 
Yet, still more absurd is the attempt to pursue 
anything like a rational, safe, and efficient course 
of medical treatment, without some knowledge 
of that most wonderful and complex of all 
machines — the human system. Without the 
knowledge we are advocating, the practice of 
medicine is a blind experiment ; and if the reme- 
dies used are powerful, there is just about as 
much probability of doing harm as good — of 
killing as curing. 

Part II. is devoted to Hygiene, or the Preser- 
vation of Health. This constitutes a prominent 



PKEFACE. V 

feature of the succeeding pages : the Laws of 
Health are explained and enforced, and the 
great truth is inculcated, that prevention is 
better than cure — that disease is a natural 
consequence of violated physiological laws, and 
therefore avoidable by obedience to those laws; and 
that this obedience is a moral obligation — one of 
the first great duties of life. This part, while it 
is intended more especially for women, contains 
some things that might be profitably read by all. 

Part III. embraces the Causes, Symptoms, and 
Treatment of the Principal Diseases of Women. 

In writing this, we have not expected, or 
attempted, to make every one an adept in all the 
mysteries of medical science; nor have we 
endeavored to foster the humbug notion that 
"every one may be his own physician." We 
have simply tried to communicate that know- 
ledge which is attainable by every person of 
ordinary intelligence, and which every woman, 
and especially every mother, should possess — 
that knowledge which will give the ability to 
distinguish many diseases in their early stages, 
while yet amenable to treatment — and to pursue 
a rational, safe, and efficient course for their 
removal, instead of resorting to a medley of 
dangerous recipes administered at haphazard. 
And should the efforts for the removal of disease 



VI PREFACE. 

be unavailing, it is hoped and believed that the 
readers of this work can better decide when to 
send for a physician, and for whom to send. 
Thus may they be enabled to avoid the fatal 
error of sending for a physician too late ; and, on 
the other hand, they may escape the scarcely 
less grave mistake of sending for some ignorant 
pretender, wholly unworthy of the responsible 
trust committed to him. 

A most important peculiarity of the treatment 
prescribed in this work is the prominence given 
to Nature's remedies — the hygienic agents, air, 
water, food, the passions, &c, &c. These are 
made the prime, the principal remedies for the 
cure of disease. In almost all medical books 
written heretofore, for both physicians and peo- 
ple, these agencies have been either wholly over- 
looked, or they have had only a secondary place.* 
Medical writers, with very few exceptions, have 
failed to teach the great truth that prevention is 
better than cure; while their curative agents have 
consisted of the most active drugs, which are 
highly dangerous in the hands of the unskillful, 
and wholly inadmissible in ordinary domestic 

* True, several popular medical works have been published of late; but 
these have unduly magnified the hygienic agents, by making them the sole 
remedies. The peculiarity of this work consists in giving these remedies 
their proper place in combination with others equally safe, and sometimef 
necessary. In short, exclusivism is avoided. True science is eclectic. 



PREFACE. Vll 



practice. Hence the almost universal ignorance 
and disregard of health; hence the prevailing 
incredulity as to the power and safety of Nature's 
remedies ; hence the general belief in specifics 
and cure-alls ; hence the delusion that the whole 
secret of medicine consists in swallowing pills, 
powders, and mixtures; hence the fatal abuses 
of medicine in domestic practice ; hence the gross 
impositions of quackery ; and hence the broken- 
down constitutions, the withered beauty, the 
premature old age, the early graves, the miseries 
untold, the diseases innumerable, and the fright- 
ful mortality of the civilized world. The fatal 
errors that have led to results so disastrous, we 
have studiously endeavored to avoid. This book 
teaches that strong and dangerous drugs should 
be banished from domestic practice, and that the 
milder remedies of this class, together with the 
hygienic agents, should constitute the great sta- 
ples of home treatment. 

Part IV. is devoted to Midwifery, the Diseases 
and Accidents of Child-bed, and the Special 
Hygiene of Lying-in Women. These important 
subjects are treated more fully than they usually 
are in works that have quite a limited space 
allotted to this important branch. It is hoped 
that this division will prove highly useful to 
those for whom it is intended. And in conclud- 



Vlll PREFACE. 



ing this brief summary, we trust that we will 
not be charged with vanity or presumption when 
we say that a domestic medical work is now 
presented to the public, that may be read 
without injury to health, purse, or morals. As 
to any positive merits it may possess, in addition 
to the negative ones just mentioned, our readers 
must decide. 

The book concludes with a Chapter on Infants 
— a subject that will be embraced, perhaps, in a 
separate volume. 

Necessity for the Work. — After what has 
been said, it is needless to multiply words on this 
point. While woman has shared the evils to 
which we have adverted, in common with the 
rest of the human family, her sufferings have 
been of a peculiar and aggravated nature. This 
is the result of her dependent condition — of the 
peculiarities of her physical organization — of the 
special duties imposed on her as a mother — and 
above all, of her blind subserviency to the 
unreasonable restrictions, and the health-destroy- 
ing fashions and customs of society. And yet, 
while thus exposed in an eminent degree to 
disease, her dependence on man for aid and 
counsel, and her native modesty, subject her to 
peculiar disadvantages in seeking relief. This 
little work is intended to obviate some of those 



PEEFACE. IX 

difficulties ; and we are sure that those for whom 
it is designed will gladly welcome a friend that 
will forewarn them of the dangers at which we 
have hinted — that will show them the way of 
health — and that may be consulted under the 
most trying and delicate circumstances without 
the least reserve. Women, by virtue of their 
natural and social relations, have more to do 
with health and disease, than all the doctors in 
the world : they are our nurses in sickness ; 
they are the mothers and trainers of our child- 
ren ; and hence they can do more to remove the 
diseases that afflict the human family than all 
the world besides. How important then, that 
they should be put in possession of that medical 
and hygienic knowledge which will qualify them 
for the great duties devolving upon them ! 

Origin of the Work. — This is the execution 
of a long-cherished desire to do some good in our 
" day and generation ;" and more especially to do 
something to alleviate the great and dispropor- 
tionate sufferings of woman. We have sincerely 
prayed that we might be enabled to do this : 
and should the desire of our heart be granted — 
should we be instrumental in shielding the 
loveliest and the best of our race from the evils 
to which they are exposed — should we succeed 
in turning even a few of this generation from 



X PREFACE. 

the crooked and rugged paths of error, and in 
opening up a Highway of health for posterity — 
should our name be mentioned with blessings by 
lovely woman — and should our grave be bedewed 
by the tears of even one, who has been redeemed 
from disease and death through our agency — it 
will be enough : no greater reward could be 
bestowed — this is more than " diamonds set in 
gold." 
Columbus, Ga., Feby. 20th, 1860. 



Note. — Technical terms have been avoided as 
far as possible ; and those which have been used, 
and the meaning of which is not obvious from 
the connection in which they are employed, will 
be found explained at the end of the book. 



CONTENTS 



PART FIRST. 

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY. 

CHAPTER I. ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN BODY. 

Anatomy defined — Anatomical and chemical constituents — 
Structure of bones — Bones of the head — Bones of chest and 
spine — Structure and motions of spine — The muscles — Their 
nature and uses — Muscles of expression — The nerves — Divi- 
sions of the nervous system — The brain — Divisions of the 
vascular system — The heart — The veins — The capillaries — 
The lymphatics — The lymphatic glands — The thoracic duct — 
The skin — The lungs — Structure of the lungs — The pleura — 
The larynx and trachea — Croup — The digestive canal — The 
mouth — "Falling of the palate" — The gullet — The stomach — 
The bowels — The liver — The pancreas, or "sweet-bread" — 
The spleen — Ague cake — The kidneys, . . . pages 21-86 

CHAPTER II. — THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY — PHYSIOLOGY. 

Man a mass of little cells — The mind — Two divisions of mind 
— How ideas are formed — Power and happiness — Dreaming — 
How to procure sound sleep — The senses — Sense of smell — 
Does not always protect against disease — Influenced by snuff 
— Sense of sight — Offices of different parts of the eye — The 
pupil in disease — The sense of hearing — Principles on which 
the ear is made — The sense of taste — Influenced by education 
— The sense of touch, its seat, &c. — Digestion — The different 
stages — Gastric juice — Stomach, how restored — Drinks, their 
temperature, &c. — Quantity of gastric juice — Salt, &c. — Over- 
eating — How fluids are absorbed by the stomach — "We should 

(xi) 



Xll CONTENTS. 

follow Nature — Absorption and circulation — The lacteals and 
lymphatics — Circulation of the blood — The pulse — "What 
moves the blood ? — Respiration — Respiration defined — Office of 
the lungs — Composition of the atmosphere — Changes in the 
blood by respiration — The air-cells — The breathing capacity 
— Principal agents in breathing — Proportion between breath- 
ing and pulse — Heat, a uniform standard — Nutrition — The 
grand finishing process — "What we know about nutrition — 
Some of the diseases of nutrition — How often is the body re- 
newed ? — The different secretions — The mucous secretion — 
The watery secretion — Dropsy — Woman's tears — Excretion 
from the skin — Urinary excretion — Stone and gravel — The 
evacuations from the bowels — Vicarious action — Important 
rule 36-53 

CHAPTER III. — DESCRIPTION OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMAN. 

The bony pelvis — The cavity of the pelvis — External organs of 
generation — The mons veneris — The labia majora — Diseases 
— Modesty — Health — The breasts — Internal organs of gene- 
ration — The vagina — The womb — The ovaries — The bladder 
—The rectum, 53-57 

CHAPTER IV. OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS — PHYSIOLOGY. 

The "courses" — Time for the "courses" — Duration of men- 
strual life — What the monthly discharge indicates — Early 
marriages — Length of each menstrual period — Influence of 
the moon, &c — Healthy discharge not painful — Girls should 
know these things — Reproduction — The germ or seed — When 
conception is most likely to occur, 58-65 



PART SECOND. 

PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. 
CHAPTER I. — VARIOUS MATTERS. 



Health neglected — Providence slandered — Our belief — Blind 
leaders, &c. — Patent medicine certifiers — A great difficulty — 



CONTENTS. Xlll 

Knowledge increasing — Wilful violation — A fatal delusion — 
Fruits of obedience — Disease banished — Woman's sufferings, 
&c. — Concluding appeal — A great work, .... 69-75 

CHAPTER II. OF AIR. 

Composition of the air — Crowded rooms — The air of cities — 
Can nothing be done? — What woman can do — Capacity of the 
lungs — Effects of impure air, &c. — Sedentary habits — Seam- 
stresses — Fashionable ladies — Intense mental application — 
Light reading — Bad positions — Means of expanding the lungs 
— Tends to promote health — Directions for the sedentary, &c. 
— Directions for those who have more leisure — Women should 
not submit to restraints — Change of air — No advantage in 
change in itself — Means of purifying the air — Private rooms, 
fires, ventilation — Fire-places and stoves — Smoking lamps, 
&c. — Sleeping-rooms — Bad colds — Night air — Late suppers — 
Air of public conveyances, 75-94 

CHAPTER III. — OF LIGHT. 

Effects of on plants, &c. — How it acts on animal life — Veiled 
ladies, 94-95 

CHAPTER IV. — OF DRINKS. 

Nature's beverage — Uses of water to the economy — The quan- 
tity of water required — Time for drinking — Temperature of 
drinks — A warning to women — Artificial drinks — Wines, cor- 
dials, &c. — Tea and coffee — Our views — Properties of tea and 
coffee — Effects of tea and coffee on women and children — 
Total abstinence — Chocolate — Hot-water tea — Acidulous 
drinks, ale, porter, &c. — Mineral waters — Composition — Not 
required by well people — Cases in which chalybeates are ap- 
propriate — Health-destroying customs at watering places — 
Mineral waters beneficial — Purity of different kinds of water 
— Minerals not injurious — Purity of rain water, &c — Modes 
of purifying water, ....... 95-1 1 1 

CHAPTER V. — OF DIET. 

Animal diet — Use and abuse — In what our errors consist — Diet 
for the sedentary and inactive — A dreadful explosion — 

2 



XIV CONTENTS. 

Beauty, health, and mind lost — Vinegar and grossness — A 
better way — Individual peculiarities as to diet — Acquired 
peculiarities — Cases in illustration — Another case — Wind- 
colic and stimulants — An important lesson — Climate and fat 
bacon, &c. — Elementary nature of foods — '.'Minerals" — Va- 
riety and bulk necessary — Dieting — Nutritiveness and digesti- 
bility of foods — Firmness and density necessary to digestion 
— Animal foods — Milk — Butter — Cheese — Vomiting in child- 
ren — Eggs — Fish — Birds — Fat hogs and disease — A prize 
monster — Filthy habits of the hog, &c. — Beef — Mutton, &c. — 
Manner of slaughtering animals — Spoiled meat — Cooking 
meats — The best mode — The worst mode — Frying in the 
South — Boasting — Baking — Vegetable food — Wheat — Light 
bread — How acids and alkalis act — Are they wholesome ? — 
Fermented bread — Unleavened bread most wholesome — Fine 
flour — Use of wheat husks — Receipt for making bread — Hot 
and cold bread — Decayed teeth — Cakes — Dumplings, &c. — 
Corn bread, hominy — Dyspepsia, &c. — Bice — Best mode of 
cooking — Peas — Beans — Boots — " Bacon and collards" — 
Fruits, how eaten — Stone fruits, apples, &c. — Strawberries 
and ice-cream — Melons — Action on the kidneys — Bules gene- 
ral — How to manage the stomach — Condiments — What they 
are — Salt, how it acts — Salt bacon — Vinegar and aromatrcs, 
&c. — A rule for the condiments — The best sauce — Times of 
eating — Breakfast and fluids — A bad breath — Drinking early 
in the morning — Dinner — Heavy suppers — Quantity of food, 
&c. — Not determined according to Gulliver — The genus Over- 
eater — The Lovers-to-eat — The Bolters — The Do-nothings — 
The Save-alls — The Eaters-to-make-it-even — The Accommoda- 
ters — The Would-do-betters — The Coming-appetiters — Effects 
of over-eating — Too many dishes, .... 111-149 

CHAPTER VI. — OF TEMPERATURE. 

How we are warmed — Artificial heat — Warming rooms — Dangers 
of neglect, &c. — "Bad colds" — Climate — Southern women, 

150-155 

CHAPTER VII. — OF EXERCISE. 

Necessary consequences of neglect — How girls are raised — 



CONTEXTS. XV 

Boarding-schools for young ladies — Exercise among the 
fashionables — The hope of our country — Manner of exer- 
cising — Time of exercising — Extent and objects of exercise, 

155-165 

CHAPTER VIII. — OF SLEEP. 

What is sleep? &c. — Time for sleep — Fashionable parties — How 
long should we sleep ? — Beds — Fires, &c. — Position — Night- 
caps — Dreams of bliss, 165-169 

CHAPTER IX. — OF DRESS. 

Dress necessary — Its abuses — The law of dress — Bonnets — Low 
dresses — Tight dresses — Pointed waists — Reasons for tight 
bodies, &c. — How to acquire a good carriage — Thin shoes — 
How to protect the feet — Hoop-skirts — Long dresses — Under- 
garments — Cooling off — Management of the hair — Origin of 
the fashions — Rules to be hung over every lady's looking- 
glass, 169-181 

CHAPTER X. — OF BATHING. 

Bathing necessary — Manner in which water acts — The different 
kinds of baths — Temperature and time of bathing — Swim- 
ming — Means of procuring reaction, &c. — Objections to bath- 
ing, . 182-189 

CHAPTER XI. — OF THE EXCRETIONS. 

Nature of the excretions — The evacuations from the kidneys 
and bowels — Means of regulating the bowels, &c. — Rules for 
the regulation of the excretions, ..... 190-193 

CHAPTER XII. MENTAL HYGIENE. 

Connection between mind and body — Influence of the mind in 
woman — The ruling passion — Dangers to which women are 
exposed — Works of fiction — Theatres, &c. — Consolations of 
religion — Influence of the depressing passions — Elevating 
passions — Amusements — Religion, &c, . . . 194-202 



XVI CONTENTS. 



PART THIRD. 

DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN. 

CHAPTER I. — OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

What is disease ? — Causes of disease — Treatment of disease — 
Two principles — The domestic treatment of disease — Abuse of 
medicine, &c. — Medical books for the people — Water as a 
remedy — Manner in which the warm bath acts, . . 205-217 

CHAPTER II. DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 

Inflammation defined, &c. — Inflammation of the privates — In- 
flammation of the mucous membrane of the external privates 
— Itching of the privates — Tumors of the external privates — 
Deformities of the privates — Union of the lips of the privates 
—Enlarged clitoris, &c, 218-223 

CHAPTER III. FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

Leucorrhoea or "whites" — Absence and suppression of the 
courses — Simple absence of the menses — Absence of the 
menses with leucorrhoea — Suppression or stoppage of the 
menses — Painful menstruation — Excessive flow of the menses 
— Effects of disordered menstruation — Green-sickness, 223-246 

CHAPTER IV. — HYGIENE OF MENSTRUATION. 

Directions as to young girls, &c. — The "change of life," 246-349 

CHAPTER V. — ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

Inflammation of the womb — Chronic inflammation and ulcera- 
tion — Tumors and other collections in the womb — Nature of 
the tumors — Polypous tumors — Cancer of the womb — Corrod- 
ing ulcer and cauliflower excrescence — Falling of the womb — 
Falling of the womb backward — Diseases of the ovaries, 249-269 

CHAPTER VI — SYMPTOMS AND HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

The features — The nipples — The moral feelings — The menses — 
The urine — Quickening — Hygiene of pregnancy— Pregnancy 



CONTENTS. XV11 

a natural healthy condition and not a disease — Disease may 
be avoided, &c. — Changes in the womb — Changes in various 
parts — Air — Clothing — Diet — Drinks — Snuff — Bleeding — Pur- 
gatives — Exercise — Sleep — Disgusting sights — Influence of 
the mind on the child before birth — Bathing — Position — Bene- 
fits from observing the laws of health, . . ' . . 269-279 

CHAPTER VII. — DISEASES OP PREGNANCY. 

Dropsical swelling of the privates — Discharges from the vagina 
— Inflammation of the womb — Toothache — Salivation — Long- 
ings — Loss of appetite, &c. — Sick-stomach — Heartburn — 
Cramp in the stomach and bowels — Vomiting blood — Consti- 
pation — Piles — Looseness of the bowels — Palpitation of the 
heart — Fainting fits — Cough and difficulty of breathing — 
Sleeplessness — Low spirits — Headache — Hysteric fits — Con- 
vulsions in pregnancy — Pains in the breasts — Relaxation of 
the abdomen and ruptures — Inability to hold the urine — Dif- 
ficulty in passing water — Cramps in various parts — Enlarged 
veins — Swelled legs — Miscarriages and false conceptions — 
Moles, &c , 280-306 



PART FOURTH. 

MIDWIFERY AND DISEASES OP CHILD-BED. 

CHAPTER I. — OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB. 

Mode of attachment, &c. — Diseases of the foetus — Signs of the 
death of the foetus, 309-311 

CHAPTER II. OF LABOR-PAINS. 

Are these pains unavoidable ? 311-315 

CHAPTER III. NATURAL LABOR. 

What is natural labor ? — The presenting part — Time for labor — 
Causes of labor — Symptoms of approaching labor — Stages of 

actual labor, 315-320 

2* B 



XY111 CONTEXTS. 



CHAPTER IV. MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

Meddlesome midwifery — Position of the woman — Making the 
bed — The chamber, diet, drinks, &c— The bowels and blad- 
der — Moral management — Assistance in the last stage — 
Management of the child — Delivery of the after-birth — Who 
shall be midwives ? 320-331 

CHAPTER V. MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN AFTER DELIVERY. 

How they are generally managed — Directions for women after 
delivery — How long should a woman remain in bed ? . 332-337 

CHAPTER VI. — SOME OF THE DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS OF LABOR 
AND CHILD-BED. 

Flooding — "Wrong presentations or cross-births — Convulsions or 
fits — Derangements of the lochia, and after-pains — Child-bed 
fever — Inflammation of the breasts and sore nipples — Milk- 
leg, . 337-346 

CHAPTER VII. MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 

Transmission from parents, &c. — Dressing of infants — Food and 
drink of infants — Bathing, washing, &c. — Mortality of infants 
— A Home Book on children, 847-353 



Explanation of Terms, 355 

Index, .... 357 



PART FIRST. 

A BKIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STKUCTUKE 
AND FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY. 

WITHOUT SOME KNOWLEDGE OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, DIREC- 
TIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD 
OR APPRECIATED — SYMPTOMS ARE WITHOUT MEANING, AND THE 
USE OF REMEDIES A BLIND EXPERIMENT. 



(19) 



CHAPTER I. 
ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN BODY. 

Anatomy defined, &c. — Anatomy treats of the 
structure of organized bodies, such, as plants and ani- 
mals. These are called organized, because they 
consist of an assemblage of parts or organs, associated 
together for the performance of special offices. The 
union of several organs for the accomplishment of 
one or more ends constitutes a system, as the nervous 
system, composed of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, 
&c. : the blood-vessel system, consisting of the heart, 
arteries, and veins, &c, &c. 

Anatomical and Chemical Constituents. — The 
human body consists anatomically of solids and fluids : 
Chemically, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and 
lime are the principal constituents ; while iron, sul- 
phur, sodium, and several other elements are consi- 
dered essential components by most physiologists. 
These chemical elements, variously combined, form 
the different tissues, as the muscular tissue, the ner- 
vous tissue, &c, &c. The fluids constitute much the 
larger portion of the human body : the principal fluids 
are the blood, chyle, lymph, spittle, gastric juice, bile, 
sweat, urine, &c. 

(21) 



22 THE BOXES. 



The Bones. 

Theik Structure. — Bones are formed of cartilage, 
or gristle, and lime principally. The gristle gives 
form, and the lime gives firmness. When the lime is 
in excess, the bones are brittle and easily broken, as 
is often the case with old people. In children the 
bones are soft and flexible, and hence mothers should 
not encourage their children in premature efforts at 
walking, if they would avoid bow-legs and knock- 
knees. The bones are supplied with blood-vessels, 
and, though destitute of sensibility in a healthy state, 
are highly sensitive when diseased. 

The human skeleton is composed of 246 bones, not 
counting some of the smaller ones. 

Boxes of the Head. — These form the walls of the 
skull ; they are strongly united by sutures or seams, 
and those most exposed to violence are divided into 
two tables, which are separated by an intervening cel- 
lular or honey-comb substance. Thus the vital organs 
within are admirably protected against blows and falls, 
and the skull may even be fractured and depressed 
without injury to the brain. This is but one of the 
many evidences of design afforded by the human 
body, which may well cause us to exclaim, — 

"How complicate ! how wonderful is man !" 

The Boxes of the Chest axd Spixe. — These bones, 
through the fashions and habits of modern society, are 
much exposed to injury, and therefore it is important 
that every woman should know something of their 
structure. The bony chest or "breast" consists of 



THE BONES. 23 

twelve ribs on each side, of a portion of the back-bone 
behind, and of the broad, flat breast-bone in front, be- 
tween the ends of the ribs. The upper ribs are attached 
to the back-bone behind and to the breast-bone in front 
by cartilage or gristle ; while the lower ribs are not 
nnited directly to this bone, but are connected with 
each other by gristle, or float loosely without support 
in front. The ribs are placed obliquely, the front end 
being lower than the one behind. It will be readily 
seen then how compressible the chest must be, for the 
cartilages easily yield to any force from without, and 
thus the ribs are depressed and the cavity of the chest 
diminished. The lungs within being as unresisting as 
air itself, the chest may be compressed almost indefi- 
nitely; and especially if this be done gradually, so 
that the vital organs within may accommodate them- 
selves to their diminished space. 

Structure and Motions of the Spine. — The ver- 
tebral column or " back-bone" consists of twenty-four 
bones, each united to the other -by an elastic, compressi- 
ble cushion. The spine is the central axis of the body, 
and sustains the whole weight of the head, trunk, and 
arms. Each separate bone composing this column has 
a certain degree of motion, one on the other. And 
though the motion of each bone is very small, yet ii 
is manifest that a very slight yielding of all would 
cause considerable bending of the spine. Besides this 
the back-bone naturally bends forward about the 
middle, and it is therefore not surprising that weak- 
ness and relaxation of the muscles of the back should 
so increase this natural curve as to cause actual 
disease and deformity ; for these muscles are the prm- 



24 THE MUSCLES. 

cipal agents in keeping the spine erect. Shall we then, 
even indirectly, cast an imputation on the work of the 
great Architect? No; for though the spine bends 
forwards, it is done for a wise purpose, and the liga- 
ments and muscles are amply sufficient to keep the 
spine from bending forward too much, if they are not 
paralyzed by inaction, or compression. 

The Muscles. 

Theik Nature and Uses. — People generally have a 
very confused idea about muscles, tendons, and nerves. 
We often hear them speaking of the stretching of the 
nerves, as if these were the cords or pulleys that 
moved the body. Now, the nerves have nothing to 
do with our motions, only to convey the commands 
of the brain to the muscles, which are the immediate 
active agents of locomotion, and all our movements. 
Another difficulty with the non-medical is that mere 
flesh should be a moving power of the body. The 
notion seems to be that - the flesh is a large, red, solid 
mass, spread over the body to round it off, while the 
smaller pieces of the mass are only thrown in to stop 
holes, and fill up depressions* "That soft, fibrous, 
red-colored substance which constitutes so large a 
portion of the volume of the more perfect animals, is 
called flesh or muscle." This flesh, or muscular tissue, 
is composed of bundles of fibres of variable size, 
enclosed in a membrane or sheath : these bundles are 
composed of smaller bundles enclosed in the same 
way, and these again of ultimate microscopic fibrils, 

* As an evidence of the confusion with regard to the muscles, we often 
hear persons of remarkable muscular development spoken of as "nervous." 



THE MUSCLES. 25 

each enclosed in a very delicate membrane. All these 
bundles and fibres are held together by a delicate 
web-like tissue, and this tissue also lies between the 
different muscles and the skin. The muscles are 
attached to the bones by glistening cords called tendons 
or "sinews." The fixed point of a muscle is called 
its origin, and the movable, its insertion. The muscles 
are not only the agents by which we perform all our 
voluntary movements — they play an important part 
in digestion, circulation, &c. ; for the heart is a hollow 
muscle, while the stomach, bowels, bladder, and other 
organs are each provided with muscles which do their 
work without the agency of our will. As already 
intimated, the muscles have much to do with keeping 
the body erect, and in preventing it from falling for- 
ward. The large muscles on the back part of the leg, 
thigh, loins, and spine are the principal agents in 
maintaining the erect position, and if these muscles 
are enfeebled by inaction or compression, deformity 
and ungracefulness must inevitably ensue. The mus- 
cles have much to do with the expression; for while 
the immortal mind is the sunlight of the features, the 
muscles which compose those features may be com- 
pared to the polished plate of the Daguerrean, for on 
them the lights and shadows of the mind are per- 
manently engraved : they reflect not only the transient 
gleam of passion, but they are the living, speaking 
embodiments of those feelings that habitually sway 
the heart. 

The Muscles of Expkession. — The most expres- 
sive muscles are some very small ones, with very long 
names, about the nose and mouth. One of these — the 
3 



26 THE NERVES. 

Levator Labii Superioris Alseque Nasi — rejoices in a 
name about as long as itself, and is intended to raise 
the sides of the nostrils, and the upper lip. It ex- 
presses scorn and disgust ; and is too often brought 
into requisition by the haughty beauty who curls her 
lip and nose in derision of those whom she conceives 
to be her inferiors. The Levator Anguli Oris, and the 
Zygomaticus Major et Minor raise the corners of the 
mouth and play in smiles on Beauty's dimpled cheek. 
The Orbicularis Oris closes the lips: a movement 
highly agreeable or disagreeable according to the design. 
The depressor muscles below the mouth are anatomi- 
cally and emotionally antagonistic to those just de- 
scribed; they depress the corners of the mouth and 
the chin, giving expression to grief, sadness, and other 
gloomy, repulsive passions. Those who would culti- 
vate beauty should never forget that the lights and 
shadows of the face are not always like summer 
clouds and sunshine — that indulgence in evil passions 
will give the countenance a permanent wintery hue, 
while the opposite feelings will cause the features to 
glow in radiant smiles, or to rest in placid winning 
beauty, like moonbeams on an unruffled lake. Who 
has not observed the contrast between the depressed 
sharp, withered expression of grief and anxiety, and 
the elevated, smooth features of cheerfulness and mirth, 
even when the passions are hushed in the deep repose 
of profound sleep ? 

The Nerves. 

Divisions of the Nervous System. — There are 
two grand divisions of the nervous system : the cere- 
brospinal and the organic. The former includes the 



THE NERVES. 27 

nerves of sensation and motion, the brain and spinal 
marrow : the latter embraces the nerves and ganglions 
that preside over the organic functions, and has there- 
fore been called the organic system. 

The Brain. — The brain fills the cavity of the skull : 
its principal divisions are the cerebrum, the cerebellum, 
and the medulla oblongata. The cavity of the skull is 
lined by a thick tough membrame (dura mater) which 
covers the brain and protects it from injury. 

The cerebrum is the seat of mind, and does not exist 
in the lower classes of animals. It constitutes much 
the larger portion of the brain, yet only a compari- 
tively small portion of it is appropriated to the mind. 
The cerebellum, or little brain, is situated in the lower 
and back part of the cavity of the skull : in its general 
structure it resembles the cerebrum. The medulla 
oblongata may be considered as a prolongation of the 
spinal marrow into the skull, and is the connecting 
link between the brain and spinal marrow proper. 

The spinal marrow is that important portion of the 
nervous system which extends from the head down 
through the whole length of the back-bone. It gives 
origin to the nerves of feeling and motion distributed 
throughout the body. — The nerve fibre differs from 
the muscular, in being hollow ; and it is supposed that 
these exceedingly minute tubes are continuous from 
the origin of the nervous trunk to those inconceivably 
small ramifications spread out so thickly through 
every part of the body, that the point of a pin cannot 
be put down without touching one. In view of such a 
wonderful mechanism as this, well may we exclaim 
with astonishment. — 



28 THE ARTEKIES, VEIN'S, AXD LYMPHATICS. 

"Strange that a harp of thousand strings, 
Should keep in tune so long." 

The organic nerves preside over the great vital func- 
tions of digestion, circulation, &c, but we cannot 
undertake to describe them. 

The Arteries, Veins, and Lymphatics. 

Divisions of the Yasculak System. — This sys- 
tem consists of the heart, or central organ of circula- 
tion ; the blood-vessels, consisting of the arteries, veins, 
and capillaries ; and the lymphatics, or lymph-vessels. 

The Heakt. — This important organ is situated in 
the left side of the chest between the lungs. It is 
divided into two auricles and two ventricles : an auricle 
and a ventricle form the right side of the heart, consti- 
tuting the right auricle and the right ventricle ; and the 
structure of the left side is identical, and thus we have 
the left auricle and the left ventricle. From the heart 
proceed the arteries which convey the blood to every 
part of the body. The aorta, or great artery, begins 
at the left ventricle of the heart, and dividing into 
innumerable ramifications, conveys the blood to every 
part of the body. This is called the systemic circula- 
tion, because it supplies the system at large. From 
the right ventricle of the heart arises the pulmonary 
artery, which conveys the blood to the lungs, from 
whence it is returned by the pulmonary veins to the 
left auricle of the heart : this is the lesser, or pulmonary 
circulation. Each auricle communicates with its cor- 
responding ventricle by a beautiful valvular arrange- 
ment which prevents the blood from flowing back- 
wards; and a similar arrangement exists where the 



THE ARTERIES, VEINS, AND LYMPHATICS. 29 

ventricles open into the arteries. The pulmonary 
artery divides into two main branches, one of which 
goes to each lung, and then these branches divide and 
subdivide until they reach those inconceivably minute 
ramifications which extend through the whole sub- 
stance of the lungs, and spread over the little air 
vesicles that form the termination of the bronchial 
tubes. 

The Yeins. — The veins commence in exceedingly 
minute radicles or roots in every part of the system ; 
and these roots or small streams unite to form larger 
and larger ones, until they finally terminate in two 
large veins that empty into the right auricle of the 
heart. One of these trunks ascends from below, and 
is called the great ascending vein : the other descends 
from above, and is called the great descending vein. 

The Capillaries. — Between the small arterial 
branches and the beginning of the venous radicles is 
found that highly important system of vessels called 
the capillary, or hair-like, from their exceeding minute- 
ness. These vessels pervade every part of the body, 
and effect some of the most interesting and important 
changes of the animal economy. 

The Lymphatics. — The lymphatic vessels with the 
lacteals constitute the absorbent system. They are 
called lymphatics because they convey a colorless fluid 
destitute of red particles. The office of the absorbents 
is to collect the worn-out and waste matters from every 
part of the body, and the nutritive chyle from the 
bowels. It will be seen then that the absorbent sys- 
tem is composed of two classes or vessels : one class 
includes the lymphatics proper. These originate in a 



30 THE SKIN. 

delicate network spread through, almost every part of 
the body; and then, passing through the lymphatic 
glands, finally terminate in the thoracic duct, yet to 
be described. The chyle vessels begin in the upper 
part of the bowels, and also empty into the thoracic 
duct. 

The Lymphatic Glands. — These are very numer- 
ous oblong, flattened bodies, through which pass the 
lymphatic vessels. These glands consist mostly of rolls 
of lymphatics. They may be felt in the groins and 
arm-pits, and often become sore and enlarged from 
sores below them. 

The Thoracic Duct. — This duct, which is the com- 
mon receptacle of the whole lymphatic system, com- 
mences by a pouch in the abdomen called the Chyle- 
receiver; it then ascends along the spine and terminates 
by emptying at the lower part of the neck into a large 
vein. The contents of the thoracic duct thus enter the 
blood, and are carried to the heart, and then to every 
part of the system. It will thus be seen that the ab- 
sorbent vessels are a part of the circulating system 
of which the heart is the centre. 

Of the Skin. 

This important membrane is continuous with the 
mucous membrane that lines the internal cavities, as 
the lungs, the throat, the stomach, &c. The sympathy 
between these parts is very close, and should be well 
understood by all who would undertake the cure of 
disease. The skin is composed of an internal coat 
called the true skin and an external one called the 
scarf-skin. The true skin is abundantly supplied with 



INTERNAL VITAL ORGANS. 31 

blood-vessels, lymphatics, and nerves, the little emi- 
nences on its surface each, containing minute vessels, 
&c. The scarf-skin is the very thin horny membrane 
spread over the true skin. This is perforated by 
innumerable small openings called pores, for the pas- 
sage of perspiration, &o. The nails and hair are part 
of the scarf-skin. The sebaceous glands of the skin 
secrete an oily fluid that keeps the skin smooth and 
soft. The little sweat-glands are very numerous, con- 
sisting of small tubes rolled up together. According 
to Mr. Erasmus Wilson, the number of pores which 
form the openings of these glands, average 2800 to 
every square inch throughout the body. From this 
it has been calculated that the number of perspiratory 
pores amounts to the enormous sum of seven millions, 
while the length of the tubes that form the perspiratory 
glands would be 28 miles. 

These figures are introduced to give some idea of 
the extent and importance of the secretion from the 
skin. 

The Internal Vital Organs. 

The Lungs.— The lungs or "lights," with their ap- 
pendages, are the organs of voice and respiration or 
breathing. The lungs are placed in the cavity of the 
chest, on each side of the heart, which lies between 
them, and which has already been described. There 
are two lungs completely filling the cavity of the chest, 
with nothing between them and the ribs except the thin 
membrane called the pleura. The base or bottom of 
the lungs rests on the diaphragm or midriff. This 
diaphragm is a dense membrane that divides the lungs 



32 INTERNAL VITAL ORGANS. 

from tlie stomach, liver, and other contents of the 
cavity of the belly. 

Structure of the Lungs. — In their structure the 
lungs are composed of the ramifications of the bronchial 
tubes — the minute divisions of the pulmonary artery 
and veins — of lymphatics, nerves, &c, the whole being 
held together by a delicate web-like tissue. This tissue 
constitutes the substance of the lungs, and is the seat 
of pneumonia. The bronchial tubes are the tubes into 
which the windpipe divides. They divide and sub- 
divide into exceedingly minute branches, and finally 
terminate in the air-cells. The pulmonary artery 
spreads its minute branches over the walls of these 
little cells, and thus the blood is oxygenized by the 
air, and converted into arterial blood. The lining of 
the bronchial tubes is the seat of the disease called 
bronchitis, which is an inflammation of the bronchial 
mucous membrane. 

The Pleura. — The pleura is a smooth, serous or 
watery membrane that lines the walls of the chest, and 
is then reflected or turned back in such a way as to 
form a complete covering for the lungs. The pleura 
secretes a watery fluid, intended to promote free motion 
between the lungs and the walls of the chest. This 
fluid is sometimes so increased by disease as to com- 
press and push back the lung, constituting dropsy of 
the chest. The water may gather on one side of the 
chest and not on the other. " Pleurisy" is an inflam- 
mation of the pleura. 

The Larynx and Trachea. — The larynx is the 
short, funnel-shaped, or hour-glass expansion which 
forms the opening from the windpipe into the throat. 



THE VITAL ORGANS. 33 

One of its cartilages constitutes the prominence in men 
known as " Adam's Apple." The larynx opens into 
the " gullet" by a small chink, the glottis, which is 
closed in the act of swallowing by a tongue-like 
cartilage called the epiglottis. This little valve or 
door can be seen when the mouth is widely opened 
and the tongue is pressed down. In the larynx are 
found the ligaments called vocal chords, intended to 
modulate the voice. 

Ceoup. — The larynx, like the windpipe and bron- 
chial tubes, is lined by a mucous membrane which is 
sometimes the seat of inflammation. Children are 
also subject to a spasmodic closure of the glottis or 
opening into the larynx: this is called spasmodic 
croup, and the symptoms resemble true croup very 
much, but may be distinguished by the absence of 
fever in the former. The lining membrane of the 
windpipe is the seat of true croup, which is a violent 
inflammation, &c. The windpipe extends from the 
larynx to the top of the lungs, where it divides into 
two branches called bronchial tubes. 

The Digestive or Alimentary Canal. — This 
important canal commences at the mouth and termi- 
nates at the anus or " fundament." It consists of the 
mouth, the gullet, the swallow, the stomach, and the 
bowels. The bowels are divided into the large and 
small intestines. The upper part of the small intes- 
tines is called the duodenum, or lesser stomach, as 
digestion is completed in this part. The lower part 
of the large intestines is called the rectum or "straight 
gut." 

The Mouth, Falling of the Palate, &c. — The 
c 



34 THE VITAL ORGANS. 

moutli contains the organs of taste and the instruments 
for chewing. The soft palate is that fold of mucous 
membrane in the upper and back part of the mouth, 
terminating in a little, round, teat-like body, com- 
monly called the "palate of the mouth." This some- 
times swells, and by touching the upper and back part 
of the tongue causes a very disagreeable, tickling, 
choking sensation : the palate of the mouth is then 
said to be down, in popular parlance, and an attempt 
is sometimes made to draw it up by pulling the hair 
on the top of the head ; which, we hardly need say, is 
not very likely to succeed. The salivary glands, for the 
secretion of saliva or spittle, are found in the mouth ; 
and these are the parts mostly affected in salivation. 
But it is a mistaken notion that the mere contact or 
sticking to the mouth of calomel, or other mercurials, 
can cause salivation. These agents can act on the 
salivary glands only by passing into the blood. 

The Gullet. — This is the upper part of the 
swallow, and from this the sesophagus or swallow 
extends down into the stomach. 

The Stomach. — This very important organ lies just 
below the midriff, and behind the depression beneath 
the breast-bone, known among the people as the " pit 
of the stomach." It has two openings : into one the 
swallow opens, and the other opens into that portion 
of the small bowels called the duodenum. The stomach 
is lined with a mucous membrane which is continuous 
from the mouth down to the fundament. The stomach 
and all the organs of the belly are covered with a 
serous or watery coat similar to the pleura. It has 



THE VITAL ORGANS. 35 

the same office as the pleura, and an accumulation of 
water in it constitutes " dropsy of the belly." 

The Bowels. — The bowels are about thirty feet 
long. Into the upper portion empty the ducts of the 
liver and pancreas. The rectum, or straight gut, is the 
lowest part of the bowels, terminating in the anus. 
The whole intestinal canal is provided with muscles 
arranged in a circular manner, so as to propel the 
contents downwards by a slow gentle movement 
called the peristaltic motion. 

The Liver. — This organ is situated in the right side, 
just under the short ribs. The bile is conveyed into 
the duodenum by a common duct arising from the 
union of the duct from the liver and that from the 
gall-bladder. 

The Pancreas or "Sweet-Bread." — This is a 
large flat gland lying across the spine deep behind the 
stomach. Its secretion resembles saliva, and is poured 
into the duodenum along with the bile. 

The Spleen — "Ague Cake." — This body, com- 
monly called the "melt," is found in the left side 
beneath the short ribs. The spleen often becomes 
much enlarged in chill and fever, constituting " ague 
cake :" in such cases it may often be felt below the 
ribs with the hand. 

The Kidneys, &c. — These are situated in the lower 
and back part of the abdomen on each side of the 
spine. From them pass the ureters to the bladder. 
The bladder is the receptacle or reservoir for holding 
the urine secreted by the kidneys, and will be noticed 
hereafter. 



CHAPTEE II. 

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY— PHYSIOLOGY. 

Man a Mass of Little Cells. — All the varied forms 
of animal and vegetable life consist of a number of little 
cells united together in various ways: the muscles, 
nerves, arteries, veins, &c, &c, are but cells which 
have been modified in size and shape to answer some 
special purpose. We are led then to this startling 
conclusion : man in his pride of body and mind, with 
his symmetrical form, and his towering intellect, is 
nothing but a mass of little honey-comb cells, like the gross, 
or the tiny flower beneath his feet ! Oh, the wisdom of 
the Divine Mind ! to accomplish such wonders with 
such simple materials ! Who but Grod could arrange 
and aggregate a countless number of delicate and in- 
visible honey-comb cells in such a manner as to give 
form and motion, thought and feeling, and all the 
wonderful phenomena of life ! ! 

The Mind. — The cerebrum is conceded by all parties 
to be the seat of mind. The cerebellum seems to act 
as a kind of regulator of muscular movements. The 
brain is a double organ, one -half being the exact 
counterpart of the other. The brain, including all its 
parts, is the presiding centre of sensation, voluntary 
motion, and the passions or propensities. The convolu- 
tions on the external surface of the cerebrum are the 
seat of all the intellectual faculties. The cerebrum is 

(36) 



PHYSIOLOGY. 37 

found only in the higher order of animals, and in man 
only is it fully and perfectly developed. 

The mind must not be confounded with the soul : 
the latter is that divine, spiritual, immortal, and im- 
material principle which, acting through the brain, 
gives origin to all those manifestations, emotional and 
intellectual, embraced in the comprehensive word 
mind. 

Two Divisions of Mind. — All mental manifestations 
may be embraced under two heads : 1st. The Facul- 
ties ; and 2d. The Propensities. The former includes 
the intellectual powers, and the latter the passions or 
impulses that move to action. The faculties are sub- 
divided into the perceptive and reflective faculties; 
the propensities into the domestic, social, moral, &c. 

How Ideas ake fokmed. — The propensities or emo- 
tional feelings are excited through the medium of the 
organs of sense, the eye, the ear, &c, and the impres- 
sions thus made become the materials of the higher 
mental processes belonging to the intellectual faculties. 
In other words, the impressions made through the 
senses, by which we hold communication with the 
external world, are the raw materials manufactured 
into ideas. Or, to extend the comparison, the brain 
may be considered as the complicated machinery of a 
steam-engine; the soul is the steam that moves the 
machinery, while the senses, seeing, hearing, &c, are 
the feeders supplying the materials for the emotional 
feelings which are finally "worked up" into ideas by 
the intellectual powers. 

Power and Happiness. — The mind consists, then, 
essentially of faculties and feelings, or thoughts and 
4 



38 PHYSIOLOGY. 

affections. The high development of the former gives 
that knowledge which is power: the cultivation and 
proper direction of the latter confers a more desirable 
boon even than this : — -right feeling is the source ; and 
the only source, of that true happiness for which mor- 
tals sigh. From the cultivation of the domestic pro- 
pensities spring those pure and peaceful joys that 
cluster around family and home, — -joys that need only 
to be mentioned, to thrill the bosom of every true 
wife and mother. From the social feelings are realized 
all those delights originating in friendship and society. 
And above all, we have those high and holy moral 
feelings by which we are allied to angels, and to 
Divinity : feelings, which, when directed, subordinated, 
and controlled by religion, cause us to submit to the 
ills of life with patience and resignation ; which enable 
us to look upon the transitory things of earth as 
nothing, when compared with the joys of a higher, 
purer, better state of existence. Yes, religion, which 
implies the subjection of all the moral feelings, can 
impart that peace, and joy, and sweet content, which 
"the world can neither give or take away :" with this we 
are superior alike to the smiles of Fortune, or the 
frowns of Adversity ; for even amid the saddest be- 
reavements of life, when the tenderest earthly ties are 
riven, — 

This star of Hope illumes our lower sphere, 
And gilds with silver light the falling tear. 

Dkeaming. — In dreaming, it would seem that the 
organ of mind (the cerebrum) is only partially asleep, 
and in this condition a train of thought is suggested by 



SENSE OF SMELL. 39 

some impression made through, the ordinary avenues 
to the brain. Memory and judgment are active in 
dreaming, as well as imagination, — past events are 
recalled by a train of association, and we reason from 
cause to effect, and often draw as correct conclusions 
as if sleep had not sealed our eyelids. 

How TO peocuke Sound Sleep. — Dreaming, then, 
is a partially active state of a part or the whole of the 
cerebrum ; and this state of partial activity, or half 
sleep, may be produced by causes acting from within 
as well as from without. Hence, the necessity for 
avoiding an over-loaded stomach if we would secure 
sound sleep uninterrupted by frightful dreams. 

The Senses.— Sense of Smell. 

Does not always peotect against Diseases. — 
The sense of smell may be considered as a sentinel or 
outpost of the stomach, intended to guard the door of 
that important organ. It also serves to protect the 
respiratory passages by warning us of the presence of 
hurtful effluvia ; but its use in this way is more limited 
than we might suppose, from the fact that some of the 
most health-destroying aeriform emanations make no 
sensible impression on the nerves of smelling. This 
is particularly true of the effluvia that cause chill and 
fever, small-pox, measles, &c, &c. 

Smell injueed by Snuff. — The sensibility of the 
nerve of smelling, is blunted and perverted by all 
strong irritating odors and substances. Hence those 
who would preserve all the senses which God has given 
them, should eschew the use of snuff, smelling-salts, 
&c. A good smell is necessary to a good taste, as is 



40 SENSES OF SIGHT AND HEARING. 

manifest to those who have been troubled much with 
"cold in the head." 

Sense of Sight 

Offices of different Parts of the Eye. — The 
principal parts of the eye are the sclerotic coat, which 
gives form and firmness ; the cornea, in front of this, 
for the transmission of the rays of light; the iris, 
which by its contractions and expansions regulates 
the quantity of light ; the pupil, opening through the 
iris, and serving as a door for the admission of the 
luminous rays ; and the retina, or expansion of the 
optic nerve, on which the image of objects is repre- 
sented like the face in a glass. 

The Pupil in Disease. — The state of the pupil is a 
valuable symptom in head affections. "When the func- 
tions of the brain are interrupted by compression, 
apoplexy, opiates, &c, the pupil is dilated because the 
optic nerve, which is associated in action with the 
pupil, is less sensitive to light. On the other hand, 
when the brain is excited from inflammation, insanity, 
&c., the optic nerve becomes more sensitive, and the 
pupil contracts. Hence the necessity for darkening 
the room in such cases. 

The Sense of Hearing. 

Principles on which the Ear is made. — The 
whole complex structure of the ear has reference to 
two principles — the propagation of sonorous vibrations, 
and their multiplication by resonance. Sounds are 
gathered by the trumpet-shaped external ear, and then 
falling on the drum of the ear, this is thrown into 



SENSE OF TASTE. 41 

vibrations, and these vibrations are communicated to 
the nerve of hearing by a little chain of bones, and 
many other nice arrangements which we cannot stop 
to describe. 

The Sense of Taste. 

Much influenced by Education. — No sense is 
more under the influence of education, than the taste, 
and none is more blunted, perverted, and depraved by 
bad habits. There can be but little doubt that the taste 
for coffee, tea, spirituous liquors, tobacco, and many spi- 
ces and condiments is acquired, and not natural. The 
object of taste is to minister to our gratification, and to 
direct us to some extent as to the suitableness of our 
food. But even in its natural unperverted state it can- 
not be considered as an unerring guide ; and if this be 
true, how unreliable must be the artificial tastes of civi- 
lized life ! 

Let not persistence, then, in the use of tobacco, spices, 
and highly seasoned food and drinks, be justified on 
the ground that the taste for these things is natural — 
that the desire for them exists, and therefore that they 
are necessary and harmless. If our natural unperverted 
taste must be directed and controlled by reason and 
experience, it is the extreme of folly to claim as 
infallible, the dictates of a sense which has been so 
blunted by habit as to require the stimulus of some 
unnatural excitant to arouse it to action. When the 
nerves of taste have been goaded by the over excite- 
ment of sharp, penetrating matters, they are just as 
incapable of a proper and healthful performance of 
their functions, as the eye is when dazzled by excessive 
4* 



42 SENSE OF TOUCH. — DIGESTION. 

light; or the ear, when stunned by the roar of a 

cannon. 

The Sense of Touch. 

Its Seat, &c. — The sense of touch exists in the skin 
generally, and more particularly in the lips, the tongue, 
and the tips of the fingers. 

Like all the other senses, the touch may be wonder- 
fully improved by education, as is proved by the read- 
ing of the blind by means of raised letters. It has 
been said that this sense has become so delicate in 
some blind persons as to enable them to distinguish 
colors by feeling ! 

Life-Sustaining Physiology— Digestion. 

The diffekent Stages of Digestion. — Digestion 
is the process by which our food is converted into 
chyle, a white, milky fluid, which is finally changed 
into blood. By the act of chewing, the food is divided 
and mixed with the saliva or spittle, and thus it is 
softened and prepared for the stomach. The food 
having been thus acted on in the mouth it is then 
swallowed, and in the stomach it comes in contact 
with the gastric juice, by which it is converted into a 
pulpy mass called chyme. This chyme then passes 
through the lower orifice of the stomach into the duo- 
denum, where, by the action of the bile, and pancreatic 
juice, it is changed into chyle. 

Gasteic Juice — Stomach — How Eestoeed. — The 
gastric juice is an acid secretion of remarkable solvent 
powers. It is well known that pepsine (one of the 
constituents of gastric juice), obtained from the sto- 
machs of the lower animals, has been much recom- 



DIGESTION. 43 

mended of late years, in dyspepsia or difficult digestion. 
But while the use of pepsine, &c, may palliate present 
symptoms, it should never be forgotten that this is 
only a temporary expedient, and that the tone of the 
stomach can be permanently restored only by attention 
to diet, drinks, and the laws of health generally. 

Drinks, Temperature, &o. — Temperature has 
much to do with digestion : Hence, the use of large 
quantities of cold water and ice at meals, or soon after, 
must retard digestion, both by reducing the tempera- 
ture of the stomach, and by diluting the gastric juice. 

Quantity of Gastric Juice, Salt, &c. — The quan- 
tity of gastric juice secreted, is not regulated by the 
amount of food taken, but by the wants of the system. 
And, " as only a definite quantity of food can be acted 
on by a given amount of gastric juice, any superfluity 
remains undissolved for some time — either continuing 
in the stomach until a fresh supply of the solvent is 
secreted, or passing into the intestinal canal (bowels) 
in a crude state, and becoming a source of irritation, 
pain, and disease." The use of salt, pepper, mustard, 
and other stimulants, increases the quantity of gastric 
juice, but their constant or excessive use must finally 
interfere seriously with the digestive process, by caus- 
ing irritation, inflammation, or ulceration of the lining 
membrane of the stomach. 

Over-Eating. — The same effects will ensue from 
excessive indulgence in the pleasures of the table ; for 
however suitable and nutritious our food may be, any 
portion remaining undissolved, must be a source of 
irritation and disease. And though the effects of over- 



44 DIGESTION. 

eating may not be immediately manifest, yet they will 
assuredly follow, sooner or later, in the form of dryness 
of the mouth, thirst, quick pulse, foul tongue, fever- 
ishness, and other symptoms indicating that the secre- 
tion of the digestive fluid is suspended, as a consequence 
of the constant and excessive excitement to which the 
stomach has been subjected. 

How Fluids are absorbed by the Stomach. — 
"While the chyle passes from the duodenum into the 
circulation through a special set of vessels, water, and 
other things in a state of perfect solution are absorbed 
by the blood-vessels spread out on the mucous mem- 
brane of the stomach. This will account for the 
rapidity with which certain poisons affect the whole 
system — sometimes even before any symptoms of their 
action on the stomach are seen. 

"We should follow Nature. — Hunger and thirst 
are indications of the natural wants of the system, and 
except in some rare cases, we should not eat or drink 
unless we have these natural promptings. But, how 
often is this plain and reasonable law violated ! How 
often do we eat and drink because it is fashionable, 
because we have nothing else to do, or for the mere 
gratification of the palate! And from thence pro- 
ceed 

" All maladies, 
Ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms 
Of heart-sick agony ; all feverish kinds ; 
Convulsions, epilipsies, fierce catarrhs ; 
Intestine stone and ulcers; colic pangs, 
Demoniac phrenzy, moping melancholy, 
And moonstruck madness ; pining atrophy, 
Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence; 
Dropsies and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums." 



ABSORPTION AND CIRCULATION. 45 

Absorption and Circulation. 

The Lacteals and Lymphatics. — The lacteals take 
up the chyle from the small intestines, and thus it enters 
the circulation of the blood, for the replenishment of 
this fluid. (For an account of the Lymphatics see 
page 28.) 

Circulation of the Blood — The Pulse. — The 
arteries convey the blood/rora the heart, the veins return 
it to that organ ; and between the arteries and veins is a 
system of vessels called the capillaries. The pulse is 
caused by the contraction of the heart propelling the 
blood through the artery. The pulse is most frequent 
in infancy, and gradually diminishes in frequency 
with the advance of age. In early life the pulsations 
are from 100 to 130 in a minute ; in old age from 50 
to 65, while the average of middle life is from 65 to 
75. As a general rule the pulse is more frequent in 
women than in men ; the average in a woman of mid- 
dle age being from 75 to 85. As the pulse is a very 
important symptom in disease, it is highly necessary 
to know something of its natural frequency. 

What moves the blood? — Mrs. Emma Willard 
has promulgated a new theory, in which she places 
the motive power of the circulation in the lungs. 
This theory has been very respectfully discussed by 
the medical profession, for which we are truly glad, 
though we must differ from the distinguished lady 
who originated it. We have a theory of our own, 
but our pages may be more profitably employed than 
in discussing theories. Were it not for this we would 
say more on the views of Mrs. Willard with regard 
to the circulation. 



46 RESPIRATION. 

Respiration. 

Kespiration defined. — Kespiration, or breathing, 
is that function by which the blood is aerated, purified, 
and fitted for the important offices for which it is 
designed as the vital, nourishing, repairing, and all- 
sustaining "circulating fluid." 

Office of the Lungs. — -The lungs have a twofold 
office : by the act of breathing, the waste matters, 
and particularly the excess of carbon, is thrown off, 
while oxygen or vital air is absorbed. It is also the 
opinion of some that the lungs receive and transmit 
electric currents. The lungs also absorb a large 
amount of moisture from the atmosphere nnder cer- 
tain circumstances. 

Composition of the Atmosphere. — In one hun- 
dred parts the atmosphere contains twenty -two parts of 
oxygen, seventy-seven of nitrogen, and one of carbonic 
acid gas. These constituents are found to be the same in 
all latitudes, in valleys, and on the tops of mountains. 
Chemical analysis has never yet discovered the deadly 
agent that causes the periodical fevers so common in 
the South and West. 

Changes of the Blood by Eespiration. — By the 
action of the air in the lungs, the blood is vitalized, 
and changed from dark venous blood into bright arte- 
rial blood. The vital fluid is then said to be decarbon- 
ized and oxygenized, and thus is it fitted for building up 
every part of the body. 

The Air-Cells.— The bronchial tubes terminate in 
minute air-cells. These cells are separated from each 
other by a very thin membrane, and on this membrane 



RESPIRATION. 47 

ramify the very small capillary vessels, so that the 
blood is exposed to the air on both sides. While the 
blood is circulating through these vessels, oxygen 
passes in through their coats, and carbonic acid gas 
escapes in the same way. The number of air-cells in 
the human lungs has been estimated at six hundred 
millions / 

The Breathing Capacity. — The capacity of the 
lungs for the reception of air varies greatly in different 
individuals ; but this capacity may be much increased 
by exercising the muscles of the chest, and by draw- 
ing in the breath deep and long. The breathing 
muscles may be trained and strengthened by exercise, 
like the muscles of the arm or any other part. 

Principal Agents in Breathing. — These are the 
muscles of the chest and belly, and the diaphragm or 
midriff; the latter being the muscular partition 
between the chest and belly. Inspiration, or breath- 
ing in, is mainly effected by the diaphragm and the 
muscles of the chest ; and expiration, or breathing out, 
by the muscles of the abdomen. 

Proportion between Breathing and Pulse.— The 
number of respirations in a given time depends greatly 
on the frequency of the pulse, and the state of mind and 
body, yet there is a certain proportion between the 
action of the heart and lungs that will generally be 
found to exist. The average number of respirations 
per minute may be stated at from 15 to 18, and the 
proportion between the pulsations and respirations 
about four or five pulsations to one respiration. Any 
marked deviation from these figures generally in- 



48 NUTRITION. 

dicates disease ; and the want of proportion is more 
likely to be seen in lung affections. 

Heat — A Uniform Standard. — The generation of 
heat is part of the respiratory process. One of the most 
remarkable things connected with the animal economy 
is its power of regulating its temperature so as to pre- 
serve a uniform standard in all climates. The great 
regulator of temperature is the skin, for the stimulus 
of heat causes it to perspire, and the fluid thrown off 
is immediately converted into vapor, by which any 
excess of heat is abstracted. On the contrary, when 
the body is exposed to cold, the transpiration from 
the skin ceases to a great extent, and thus the heat 
generated is retained. 

Nutrition. 

The Grand Finishing Process. — Nutrition is the 
actual conversion of nutritive elements into the substance 
of our bodies — it is the end and aim of all the digestive 
processes described. This grand finishing process of 
digestion is performed in that interesting system of 
vessels — the capillaries. These vessels pervade every 
organized texture of the body, and many of them are 
so exceedingly minute that only a single red particle 
of blood can pass at the same time. 

What we know about Nutrition. — The nutritive 
elements are contained in the arteries, and are conveyed 
to these by the capillaries, and passing through the 
coats of these little vessels, they are converted into the 
various tissues of the body, while all these tissues are 
made up of minute honey-comb cells, arranged some- 
times in one way, and sometimes in another. Thus are 



SECRETIONS AND EXCRETIONS. 49 

formed the brain, the muscles, the bones, and every 
part of the body. 

Some of the Diseases of Nutrition. — Wens, and 
various kinds of tumors, are caused by an " error in 
nutrition," by which is understood a morbid deposi- 
tion in a part without assimilation or conversion. 
Consumption belongs to this class of diseases ; and so 
does excessive fatness, which, in some cases, is a real 
disease. Still a moderate accumulation of fat is 
entirely compatible with health, and highly con- 
ducive to beauty, by giving that rotundity of form, 
that charming embonpoint, so attractive in women. 
Besides this, fatness seems to promote cheerfulness 
and good-nature ; for fat men and women are generally 
smiling and even-tempered ; but whether the good- 
nature is the result of the fatness, or the fatness of 
the good-nature, is a debatable point. Still we think 
that the old adage, " Laugh and grow fat," might 
with equal propriety be rendered, Grow fat and laugh. 

How often is the Body renewed? — It is a 
common opinion that the body is renewed every 
seven years — that every particle of old matter is 
thrown off in this time, and that we then come forth 
with new bodies. This may be an approximation to 
the truth, but there can be no doubt that the process 
of repair and decay is much influenced by our habits 
of life, and especially by the amount of exercise, and 
the nature of our food. 

The Secretions and Excretions. 

The different Secretions. — Each organ and struc- 
ture secretes, or separates its own peculiar fluid : those 
secretions that are intended for the use of the animal 
5 D 



50 SECRETIONS AND EXCRETIONS. 

economy are called recrementitious ; they are the chyle, 
gastric juice, saliva, mucus, &c., &e. Those secretions 
that are intended to rid the body of waste and injuri- 
ous matters, are commonly called "excrements." To 
this class belong sweat, urine, the discharges from the 
bowels, &c. 

The Mucous Secretion. — The cavities of the body 
opening externally, as the nose, mouth, windpipe, 
bladder, sexual organs, &c, are lined with a mucous 
membrane that secretes a slimy fluid called mucus: 
this fluid keeps the parts over which it is spread, 
smooth and moist, and shields them from injury and 
irritation. 

Woman's Tears. — The only other secretion that we 
shall notice is the tears secreted by the lachrymal gland. 
Physiologically the office of the tears is to moisten the 
eye-ball, and to cleanse and protect it. And who can 
tell the moral influence of a tear, and especially a 
woman's tears ? For, " Beauty's tears are lovelier than 
her smiles," says Campbell. And Byron, who had 
often felt the potent spell, thus describes it : — ■ 

" Oh ! too convincing — dangerously dear 
In woman's eye, the unanswerable tear! 
That weapon of her weakness, which can wield 
To save — subdue — at once her spear and shield." 

Excretion from the Skin. — The skin not only 
maintains a uniform standard of temperature ; it is also 
one of the most important cleansing organs, freeing the 
blood of a vast amount of matters that would be highly 
injurious if retained. The great extent of the perspi- 
ratory tubes has already been noticed. And it should 
be remembered that this extensive secretory surface 



SECRETIONS AND EXCRETIONS. 51 

is constantly in action, even when the secretion is not 
sufficiently rapid to stand in drops of sweat : the in- 
sensible perspiration never ceases, when the skin is in 
a healthy condition ; but an invisible vapor charged 
with various matters, is constantly rising, like steam, 
from the surface of the body. The amount of solid 
matter thus thrown off, has been estimated at one 
hundred grains per day ; and the whole amount of 
solids passing from the skin and lungs both, has 
been reckoned at from If lbs. to 51bs. in twenty-four 
hours. 

Urinary Excretion, Stone and Gravel. — The 
kidneys eliminate from the system a large amount of 
various salts, earthy matters, and nitrogen. Some of 
these solid elements of the urine are sometimes 
deposited in the kidneys or bladder, constituting stone 
and gravel. If the urinary secretion be suspended for 
any length of time, death ensues, with symptoms 
of stupor, or brain-poisoning: a conclusive evidence 
of the importance of the cleansing office of the 
kidneys. 

The Evacuations from the Bowels. — The office 
of the bowels is to pass off the " excrements" or the 
remains of our food after the digestible part has been 
dissolved and taken up by the lacteals, and conveyed 
into the blood. Neglect of this evacuation, and 
especially by women, is a prolific source of disease : 
this subject will be discussed more fully in the 
hygienic department of this work. 

Vicarious Action — Important Eule. — A very 
interesting feature of the excretory or cleansing organs 



52 SECRETIONS AND EXCRETIONS. 

is their vicarious action. By this is understood the 
power of one organ to act for another ; or to take on 
increased action, when the functions of an associated 
organ are suspended. To illustrate — the skin and 
kidneys are intimately associated in their functions ; 
and when the action of the skin is interrupted from 
cold ; or any other cause, the kidneys perform double 
duty, and the urinary secretion is much increased. 
This is manifest to every one who has noticed the 
effects of a change of weather from warm to cold. 
The sympathy, as it is called, between the skin and 
the mucous membrane lining the air-passages, and the 
bowels, is very close; and hence, the " bowel com- 
plaints," "colds in the head," coughs, &c„ &c, that ensue 
when the functions of the skin are interrupted by 
exposure to cold, or by a sudden change of weather. 
In these cases, if the bowels and lungs did not relieve 
themselves by an increased discharge, or if the skin 
did not resume its action, inflammation would result. 
These facts are highly important both in the prevention 
and treatment of disease. 

Without going into details, we give one very im- 
portant rule : "When an organ is feeble and incapable 
of performing its functions properly, it should be 
relieved by acting, as far as possible, on the organ 
associated by sympathy with the one so diseased. 
And when an organ takes on an increased discharge to 
supply the place of another discharge, which is sup- 
pressed, we should be very slow to check the increased 
action until the suppression is removed. 

On this principle we resort to sweating remedies in 



SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMEN. 53 

lung affections, bowel affections, &c. And on the 
same principle we should mind how we check 
discharges, from the bowels, lungs, or womb, unless 
means are used to restore the functions of the skin. 



CHAPTER III. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMAN. 

" To the pure, all things are pure." 

The Bony Pelvis. — This is an irregular oval cavity 
formed by the bones between the lower end of the 
back-bone, and the hip joints, or heads of the thigh 
bones. The pelvis is usually spoken of as consisting 
of three distinct bones, though these are united in one 
in grown persons. The upper and larger division is 
the hip or "haunch-bone." This is the bone that 
spreads out like wings on each side, giving such width 
to the hips of women. The front bone is the pubis, or 
as it is commonly called, the " cross-bone." The lower 
bone is the ischium, or " sitting-bone," it being the 
bone on which we rest in the sitting posture. 

These bones form the front and sides of the pelvis. 
Behind is the sacrum. This is a wedge-shaped bone, 
with the broad end upward and joined to the lower 
end of the spine, of which it may be considered a 
continuation. The sacrum is wedged in between the 
hip bones on each side, forming the bond of union 
between them. 



54 SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMEN". 

The Cavity of the Pelvis. — The bones described 
are all united together in such a manner as to form an 
irregular cavity, approaching a circle : this is the 
cavity of the pelvis, a most important part of the 
anatomy of woman. This cavity contains all the in- 
ternal organs of generation, yet to be noticed, together 
with the organs connected with these — as the bladder, 
the straight gut, &c. A knowledge of the size, shape, 
and direction of this cavity is highly important to the 
practitioner of Midwifery ; and no one should be 
allowed to interfere, by way of changing the position 
of the child, who does not possess this knowledge. 

The External Organs of Generation. 

The Mons Veneris. — This is the prominent, fatty 
mass in front of the cross-bone. 

The Labia Majora, &c. — The labia majora or 
greater lips are the folds on each side, below the mons 
veneris. Within these are the folds called the lesser lips 
or nymphse. The clitoris is the small teat-like body in 
front of the cross-bone. Among the external organs 
of generation might be mentioned the hymen. This 
is a thin membrane that partially closes the vagina, 
or passage to the womb, and has commonly been con- 
sidered as the seal of virginity. But it is liable to 
rupture from various causes. This membrane some- 
times offers a serious impediment to the monthly 
discharge. 

Diseases— Modesty— Health. — The parts just de- 
scribed are lined by a very delicate mucous membrane, 
which is liable to a great variety of diseases ; and 
hence, the necessity of describing things of which 



SEXUAL OKGANS OF WOMEN". 55 

modesty blushes even to think. But modesty, though 
it is the brightest gem in the beauteous diadem of 
female loveliness, should not be prized above that 
knowledge which is necessary, in many instances, to 
health, and even life itself. " To the pure, all things 
are pure ;" and no refined and virtuous woman will 
ever be injured by familiarizing herself with the most 
secret mysteries of her organization, if she is incited 
to such investigations by that greatest of all earthly 
objects — the preservation of health. 

The Bkeasts. — The breasts, or mammary glands, 
are appendages to the generative system in woman. 
These glands are composed of lobes which secrete the 
milk, and this milk is conveyed to the nipple by the 
milk tubes, where it is discharged. These glands exist 
in a rudimentary state in men, and there are cases on 
record where they have been so developed and ex- 
cited by suckling as to enable fathers to perform the 
part of mothers to infants ! 

The Internal Organs of Generation. 

The Yagina. — This is the canal leading from the 
external parts to the womb. Through this canal 
pass the child in labor, the monthly discharge, &c. 
It is four or five inches long, and about an inch in 
diameter. It is composed of an erectile, contractile 
tissue lined by a delicate mucous membrane, and this 
membrane has a number of transverse folds so that 
the vagina may be greatly dilated. The vagina is 
attached above to the neck of the womb, encircling 
it completely like the mouth of a sack. Behind, 
the vagina is connected with the rectum, or straight 



56 SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMEN. 

gut, by a septum, or fold of web-like tissue. Before, it 
is connected to the bladder in the same way. Below, 
the vagina opens between the lips of the external 
parts already described. 

The Womb. — The womb is that highly important 
organ occupying the upper part of the pelvic cavity, 
and situated between the bladder in front, and the 
straight gut behind. In shape it resembles a pear with 
the small end downward. The womb is divided into 
the body, the neck, and the mouth. The body consti- 
tutes the upper and larger portion. The neck is that 
contracted portion of the womb that projects into the 
vagina; and the opening from this neck into the 
vagina is called the mouth of the womb. The walls 
of the womb consist of muscles lined by a mucous 
membrane and covered by the peritoneum, before 
described. The dimensions of the womb are not on 
an average greater than three inches long, by about 
two inches wide, even in women who have borne 
several children. The broad ligaments are formed by 
folds of the peritoneum spreading out from the sides 
of the womb. 

The Ovaries. — The ovaries, or female seed-glands, 
are situated in the upper part of the broad ligaments 
near the upper angles of the womb. These glands 
are about the size of a large bean or an almond. They 
are composed principally of little vesicles or egg-bags. 

The Fallopian Tubes. — These tubes extend from 
the upper part of the womb to the ovaries, and their 
office is to convey the little seeds or eggs from the 
ovaries or egg-bags into the womb. 

The Bladder, &c. — The bladder and rectum, or 



SEXUAL OEGANS OF WOMEN. 57 

straight gut, are not part of the sexual apparatus, but 
they are so closely connected with the latter that it is 
necessary to describe all together. The bladder is 
situated behind the pubic or cross-bone, and in front 
of the womb, so that it is liable to be compressed and 
misplaced by changes in the size and situation of the 
womb. This fact accounts for many of the symptoms 
and diseases of women that could not be at all under- 
stood without knowing it. Most cases of what are 
called " gravel" are nothing more than irritation of the 
bladder and urethra, caused by pressure of the womb. 
The canal leading from the bladder is called the 
urethra, and it opens externally just below the cross- 
bone. 

The Rectum. — The rectum, the large gut, or the 
straight gut, lies behind the womb and the vagina; 
and, like the bladder, it is subject to compression when 
the womb is distended from pregnancy or any other 
cause. 



58 OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGAN'S. 



CHAPTEE IT. 
OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS— PHYSIOLOGY. 

These things should be known to all — to maidens and mothers 
alike. It cannot be that God has so ordered it that know- 
ledge SO ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF WOMAN CAN BE DESTRUC- 
TIVE TO MORAL PURITY. 

The " Courses" — The Marriageable Age. — The 
age of puberty , or the marriageable age, is marked in 
girls by changes, mental, moral, and physical, that are 
well calculated to arrest attention, and to excite the 
most lively interest. These changes are thus beauti- 
fully described by Velpeau, a distinguished French 
medical writer : — " Puberty, or the marriageable age, 
is announced in girls, as in boys, by numerous changes. 
The general organization, which, until that period, 
had progressed alike in both beings, seems suddenly 
to take an opposite direction in each. The young 
girl becomes more timid and reserved; her form 
becomes more rounded, her voice alters, but to take 
on a softer and more harmonious tone ; her bosom is 

developed Her eyes, which are at once 

brilliant and languishing, express commingled desires, 
fears, and tenderness ; the sensations she experiences, 
and the sense of her own weakness, are the causes 
why she no longer dares to approach the companions 
of her childhood but with a downcast look. On the 
other hand, the gentle modesty that animates her 
countenance, and the seductive graces of her demeanor, 



OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 59 

soon disclose a power whose existence she never sus- 
pected, and which renders it true to say that the mar- 
riageable age in the softer sex is the springtide of 
nature, and the season of the pleasures; but a new 
function, the catamenial ('courses'), the absolute 
compass of good or bad health in women, is estab- 
lished with more or less difficulty in the midst of this 
great revolution," &c. And thus are all traits of 
resemblance between the two sexes effaced. "The 
bud newly expanded blossoms amongst the flowers, 
and this brilliant metamorphosis is signalized by the 
rosy tints of the cheeks and lips, and the perfect 
development which discloses the arrival of the age of 
puberty." And continues Colombat, another French 
writer, — "The young girl who, until now, was an 
equivocal non-sexual creature, becomes a woman in 
her countenance and in all the parts of her body ; in 
the elegance of her stature, and beauty of her form, 
the delicacy of her features ; in her constitution, in the 
sonorous and melodious tones of her voice, in her sen- 
sibility and affections ; in her character, her inclinations, 
her tastes, her habits, and even in her maladies." The 
same writer thus beautifully paints the moral changes 
of this attractive period of life : — " The young girl be- 
comes more tender-hearted, more sensitive, more com- 
passionate, and appears to attach herself to everything 
about her. The new sensations arising within her soul 
make her timid in approaching the companions of her 
childhood; a strange trouble, a sort of restlessness, an 
agitation before unknown, are the heralds of a power 
whose existence she does not even suspect." 

Time for the " Courses."— The time of life at 



60 OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 

which menstruation, or the monthly discharge, occurs, 
varies according to circumstances. The most influen- 
tial agents in retarding or hastening the discharge are 
climate and habits of life. In warm climates the 
courses come on as early as from eight to twelve years ; 
in more temperate regions they may be expected at 
from twelve to sixteen ; and as late as from fifteen to 
twenty in cold countries. In this country, the average 
might be placed at fifteen in the Southern States, and a 
little later at the North. A country life and occupa- 
tions, simple manners, and frugal fare, tend to retard 
the appearance of the courses. On the contrary, an 
easy life of self-indulgence, stimulating food and 
drinks, attendance on balls and theatres, lascivious 
books and pictures, children's parties, and the whole 
hot-bed system of city life, all stimulate the sexual 
organs into precocious activity, which is followed by a 
premature old age — " 'Neath whose withering touch 
the lines of beauty fade away." 

Duration of Menstrual Life. — Menstrual life, or 
the time from the first appearance to the final cessation 
of the courses, is about thirty years : placing their 
appearance at fifteen, they would disappear finally at 
about forty-five — when they begin early, they cease 
earlier, &c. This discharge is peculiar to women, and 
it comes from the mucous membrane lining the womb. 
The exciting cause is to be found in the ovaries or egg- 
bags. As a general rule, the courses are suspended 
by pregnancy and suckling. 

What the Monthly Discharge indicates. — 
Early Marriages. — It is an undoubted truth that the 
appearance of this discharge indicates the fitness of 



OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 61 

woman to perform her maternal obligations to the 
human race. Yet, this is a guide as to the propriety of 
assuming the grave responsibilities of the married 
relation, only when Nature is left free to d<y her own 
work. The bearing of children is one of the most 
exhausting processes to which a woman can possibly 
be subjected ; for her very life's blood has to go to sup- 
port the new being within her, and she has to furnish 
the materials for all the complex structures of bones, 
muscles, brain, and every part of the child. How 
many have been convinced of the truth of the above 
position by sad experience ! How many women are 
there, who are wrinkled, worn-out, superannuated, dis- 
eased, and completely broken down, when they should 
be in the very prime of full-blown, exuberant woman- 
hood ! And all because, under the hot-bed influences 
to which we have adverted, the sexual organs have 
been prematurely developed, the courses have made 
their appearance too early, and a child has been led to 
the marriage bed ! We say a child emphatically, for 
though the evidences of womanhood are present, many 
of these' forced growths are as little capacitated in 
mind and body to become mothers, as children are. 
Even when the evidences of womanhood are not 
hastened by any artificial influences, young women 
should not marry until their whole organization, men- 
tal and physical, is fully developed and consolidated — ■ 
until every part is perfect, wanting not an atom, with 
an overflowing vitality seeking an outlet. If women 
would so live, and so wait, as to attain to this state of 
glorious maturity, before they take the marriage vow ; 
and if they would follow the laws of health afterwards, 
6 



62 OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 

it is beyond the power of language to express the 
blessings that would ensue to mothers, to children, 
and to the whole human family ! 

Length, &c, of each Menstual Period. — The 
duration of each menstrual period, and the quantity of 
fluid discharged, vary greatly in different women ; so 
that we may say, each is a law unto herself in these 
particulars. Therefore, every woman must form her 
estimate of the healthy nature of her " monthly 
periods," not so much by the number of days that 
she may menstruate, or by the actual quantity dis- 
charged, as by a comparison with her general habits 
in these respects, and by the effects on her system. 

Influence of the Moon, &c. — Women are regu- 
lated about every lunar month, or at intervals of 28 
days ; but there is no foundation for the notion that the 
moon has any control over this thing ; for women are 
menstruating every day in the year, which of course 
precludes the idea of lunar influence. There are many 
other absurdities afloat in the world in reference to 
this interesting function, but we cannot stop to notice 
them. Suffice it to say, that it is a natural process, 
designed to fit a woman for the great duty which she 
owes to mankind, and that she is not poisonous or 
dangerous, either to persons or things, because she 
happens to be "after the manner of women." 

Healthy Discharge not Painful. — The monthly 
discharge is a secretion from the lining membrane of 
the womb, and in its natural condition it does not 
come away in clots. A coagulated or clotted discharge 
indicates disease. Pain is equally an evidence of an 
unnatural or diseased state, for perfectly healthy men- 



OFFICES OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 63 

struation is entirely painless. Healthy menstruation 
is of a dirty, coffee color, destitute of any very disagree- 
able smell, does not clot, and is unattended with pain. 
How few healthy menstruations in the present day ! 

Girls should know these Things. — Finally, in 
concluding this subject, we would insist on the import- 
ance of haying young girls informed as to the nature 
of menstruation, the time of its appearance, &c, &c. 
In the absence of such knowledge, attempts have been 
made to check it by the use of cold water and other 
dangerous means. And without a knowledge of the 
nature and uses of this function, some of the most 
vitally important truths of Hygiene must be sup- 
pressed. The fact is, there is too much fastidiousness 
and false delicacy in this age of the world, which 
should be banished, and young girls, as soon as they 
reach the proper age, should be instructed fully in 
everything pertaining to the preservation of that 
greatest and most desirable of all earthly blessings — 
health. Away then with that false modesty, those 
unfounded fears, and that fatal reserve, which are a 
wicked imputation on the wisdom of the great Creator ! 
For to say that a knowledge of her organization is 
calculated to stain the purity of woman, is to assume 
that God has made knowledge absolutely essential to 
her well-being, which is injurious and destructive in 
its tendency ! A conclusion contrary to reason and 
common sense, and insulting to the character of Him 
"who doeth all things well." No, there is nothing cor- 
rupting or demoralizing to woman in the study of 
herself: she may investigate the most secret mysteries 
of her physical nature, and still be 



64 REPRODUCTION. 



-" Chaste as the icicle 



That's curdled by the frost of purest snow, 
And hangs on Dian's temple." 



Reproduction. 

The Germ or Seed. — Beproduction is a generic 
term implying that power peculiar to plants and ani- 
mals, of reproducing a being similar to themselves. 
The first part performed by woman in this great pro- 
cess is to furnish the germ of the new being, or the little 
egg from which it springs. This germ or egg is sup- 
plied by the ovaries or egg-bags. At each menstrual 
period, one or more of these germs or eggs pass from 
the ovaries along the fallopian tubes into the womb. 
Should this germ come in contact with a vitalizing 
element, conception takes place, and the growth of the 
new being then begins. Should no contact of the 
kind alluded to occur, the germ is thrown off from 
the womb, and there is an end of the matter. 

"When Conception is most likely to occur. — It 
is generally admitted among physiologists that men- 
struation with its attendant process of laying, or passing 
a germ into the womb, causes an aptitude for concep- 
tion, and consequently that this is more likely to occur 
during the menstrual excitement, and a few days after, 
than at any other time. This fact may be made of 
great practical importance, where from ill health or 
other causes, it may be desirable to regulate the num- 
ber of offspring. And we will take this occasion to 
add that many circumstances would not only justify 
the use of our physiological knowledge, for the pur- 
pose alluded to, but that the neglect to avail ourselves 



REPRODUCTION. 65 

of such knowledge, would, in some cases, be an act of 
cruel injustice to some of the fairest, the best, and 
often, the most afflicted of our race. Who will say 
that it is criminal to save a wife from disease, and 
threatened death, consequent on excessive child-bear- 
ing by restraint t Who will say that it is not a crime, to 
subject a wife to such evils, by following the impulses 
of passion regardless of consequences ? 



6* 



PAST SECOND. 

PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. 

' NOR LOVE NOR HONOR, WEALTH NOR POWER, 
CAN GIVE THE HEART A CHEERFUL HOUR, 
WHEN HEALTH IS LOST. BE TIMELY WISE ; 
WITH HEALTH ALL TASTE OF PLEASURE FLIES.' 

(67) 



CHAPTER I. 
VARIOUS MATTERS. 

Health neglected — Providence slandered.— 
Every one will admit the truth of the preceding quota- 
tion, without the least hesitation ; and all will subscribe 
as readily to that trite maxim — "an ounce of preven- 
tion is worth a pound of cure." Yet notwithstanding 
these admissions it is lamentably true, that the greater 
part of mankind are either ignorant of the laws of 
health, or practically regardless of them when known. 
There are thousands of our race, who never thought or 
read a moment in their lives, on the laws that govern 
their being, or the means of preserving their health. 
Others there are, who devote some attention to this 
all-important subject, but their ideas are derived from 
newspaper advertisements, and catch-penny books, and 
they are very naturally led to the conclusion that the 
whole secret of health consists in swallowing some 
nostrum or specific for the cure of disease. These peo- 
ple never think of the causes or prevention of disease ; or 
if they do, they rest satisfied in the belief that all our 
maladies are unavoidable inflictions of Heaven ; " mys- 
terious dispensations of Providence" which must be 
borne with pious resignation. And these misguided 
slanderers of Providence, who, under the guise of 

(G9) 



70 VARIOUS MATTERS. 

piety, charge God with evils that are the natural con- 
sequences of their own wrong-doings, are to be found 
not only among the ignorant and partially enlight- 
ened, but among those of whom we might expect better 
things — even among professional men, and literary 
men and women — among physicians, clergymen, edi- 
tors, and grave professors. 

Our Belief — The Laws of Health. — We would 
guard against the inference that we do not believe in 
the agency of a superintending and directing Power : 
for this we do most devoutly believe. But we are 
equally firm in the conviction that God has instituted 
physiological, as well as moral laws for our govern- 
ment ; that obedience to those laws is absolutely essen- 
tial to health and life, and that, as certainly as a breach 
of the moral law is punished in the life to come, just 
so certainly will violations of the laws of health be 
visited with the penalty in this life. 

Blind Leaders — Patent Medicine Certificates. 
— The want of correct knowledge on medical subjects 
in general, and the preservation of health in particular, 
is almost universal. Our literary characters are gene- 
rally less informed on medical matters than on any 
others. We will not say that they are grossly ignorant 
— that they know nothing ; but the cause of truth re- 
quires us to say, that they are very often deceived and 
misinformed, and that those who commit themselves 
to their guidance, in medical affairs, on account of 
their literary reputation, are very likely to be led into 
the most fatal delusions. In confirmation of this, it is 
only necessary to notice how readily these men of 
letters give in to the absurdities of medical impostors, 



VAEIOUS MATTERS. 71 

and how easy it is for these harpies that prey on the 
public health, to obtain any number of "certificates" 
from clergymen, professors in literary institutions, &c., 
to the wonderful virtues of blood-purifiers and other 
health-destroying nostrums. 

A great Difficulty. — Knowledge increasing. 
— Besides actual ignorance on the subject of hygiene, 
a very great difficulty consists in an indisposition on the 
part of the people to conform to the laws of health — 
to practice what they know. Many can truly say, — 

" I see the right, and I approve it too, 
Condemn the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue." 

There is, however, a growing interest on this subject ; 
the masses are beginning to awake to the important 
truth that the preservation of health should be among 
the first great objects of life. — Sound medical knowledge 
is beginning to be diffused through the popular chan- 
nels of communication; we have a few respectable 
journals for the people, devoted mostly to Hygiene ; 
and some widely circulated newspapers and maga- 
zines* have adopted a " Health Department," to the 
exclusion of the indecent and delusive patent -medicine 
advertisements that still disgrace the columns of so 
many of our papers. Besides this, a knowledge of the 
elements of Anatomy, Physiolog} r , and Hygiene is 
beginning to be considered a necessary part of a com- 
mon school and collegiate education. 



* To Louis A. Godey, the enterprising publisher of the "Lady's Book," 
belongs the honor, we think, of being first to establish an original " Health 
Department." We trust that his example will bo followed by all of our 
leading papers and magazines. 



72 VARIOUS MATTERS. 

Willful Violation. — A Fatal Delusion.— How 
many are there who knowingly and willfully violate the 
laws of health, thus sinning, we might say, against 
their bodies with malice aforethought ! They indulge 
in some forbidden pleasure or injurious appetite, know- 
ing that sickness will be the consequence, under the 
delusive idea that they have but to take medicine, or 
send for a physician, and all will be right again. But 
how often are they fatally deceived ! True, medicine 
may, for the time, relieve the effects of gluttony or 
debauchery, but the frequent use of drugs will dis- 
order the functions of the body, and incurable disease 
will inevitably result from persistence in habits that 
render a frequent resort to such agents necessary. 
And again, medical science is uncertain at best, and 
the most approved remedies, when administered by 
the most skillful physician, too often fail, when disease 
has fixed itself on the vitals. But should the disease 
not prove immediately fatal, a momentary gratifica- 
tion will, in all probability, be followed by days, and 
weeks, and months, and years of suffering, permanent 
impairment of health, and premature death. 

Fruits of Obedience — Disease banished. — Such 
are the consequences of a disregard of the laws of 
health : let us now consider the fruits of obedience. It 
is true that we are exposed to dangers and accidents 
which are, to some extent, unavoidable, yet, while one 
falls in this way, hundreds of thousands are daily and 
hourly hurried to the grave through disregard of the 
plain precepts of Hygiene. Indeed it is our honest 
conviction that ninety -nine hundredths of the diseases 
that devastate the world and crowd our graveyards, 



VARIOUS MATTERS. 73 

could be prevented by attention to the plain and easily 
understood laws of health. Yes, we believe this and 
more : we believe that full and perfect obedience to 
the laws of our being, would banish disease and 
deformity from the world, and finally restore our fallen 
race to the pristine beauty and perfection of our first 
parents when they emerged from the plastic hands of 
the great Creator. This may be considered extrava- 
gant by many, but it must be so, unless the work of 
the great Architect is imperfect — unless disease is the 
natural condition of mankind, and not the result of a 
violation of physical laws that are fixed and immu- 
table in their nature and consequences. Such, and so 
great, are the blessings offered by Hygeia * to those who 
make their offerings at her shrine — to those who, 
returning from their wanderings, perform their vows 
of obedience. 

Woman's Sufferings. — And surely woman will 
be the first of these returning votaries ; for, since the 
first act of disobedience — since she first partook of 
that forbidden fruit — " Whose mortal taste brought 
death into the world and all our woe," her lot has been 
a peculiarly hard one. From her weakness and de- 
pendence, from the nature of her physical organiza- 
tion, and the special duties imposed on her as a 
mother, she has been exposed, in an eminent degree, 
to all the evils arising from a violation of the laws of 
health ; and, at the same time, she has suffered much 
from the ignorance and malpractice of those on whom 
she has been dependent for medical advice. But we 

* Goddess of Health. 



74: VARIOUS MATTERS. 

cannot believe that the pain and disease that she has en- 
dured are entirely the result of the circumstances by 
which she is surrounded ; and we are still further from 
believing that all her sufferings are a direct curse in- 
flicted on her for her moral guilt. For while sin or 
moral guilt is the prime source of all the evils of life, 
disease does not flow directly from this source, but is 
the immediate and necessary consequence of viola- 
tions of physiological laws instituted for our govern- 
ment. The reward of obedience to those laws is 
health and happiness — the natural consequences of 
disobedience are disease, misery, and death. We are 
left free to act — to choose for ourselves — we can obey 
and live, or disobey and die. 

Concluding Appeal. — A Great Work. — Our ob- 
ject in these preliminary remarks has been to impress 
the minds of our readers with a sense of the paramount 
importance of the subject of Hygiene. If we could 
so far succeed in this as to induce them to study and 
obey the laws of health, we would indeed accomplish 
a noble work — a far greater one than all the writers 
and reformers, political or medical, who have preceded 
us. And now in conclusion we would ask, shall our 
labor be in vain ? Will not those for whom this work 
is intended, study and obey the precepts of Hygiene ? 
Will they not return from the crooked and rugged 
paths of folly and disease to the smooth and pleasant 
highway of health and happiness ? Will they longer 
groan under an accumulation of evils that might be 
avoided, and that are hurrying them and their off- 
spring into untimely graves ? We trust not — we trust 
that some, nay, many, will be induced to make theii 



OF AIR. 75 

offerings at tlie shrine of the smiling Goddess who 
can protect from 

" That dire disease, whose ruthless power 
Withers Beauty's transient flower \ n 

who can give ease for pain; joy for sorrow; smiles 
for tears ; the roses of health for the pallor of disease ; 
the light elastic step for dragging weariness ; nights 
of soft repose for heavy hours of tossing restlessness ; 
bounding vigor for languishing dullness ; the swelling 
lines of full-grown beauty for the sharp and withered 
form of emaciation; a long life of mental, physical, 
and social enjoyments, for a few sad days of darkness 
and gloom ending in an early grave. 



CHAPTER II. 
OF AIK. 

"Men consume too much food and too little pure air; they take 
too much medicine and too little exercise. more people die op 

AIR-TIGHT ROOMS THAN OF UNCHINKED LOG-CABINS." Hall's Jour. Health. 

Composition" of the Aik. — Chemically, the air or 
common atmosphere is composed of oxygen and nitro- 
gen, with a variable, but generally small proportion of 
carbonic acid gas. Oxygen gas is the agent that sup- 
ports respiration and combustion. Nitrogen, which 
constitutes eighty parts in one hundred of the atmo- 
spheres, seems to act principally as a diluent; for 
undiluted oxygen would be too stimulating to the 



76 OF .AIR. 

lungs. Carbon and nitrogen, when unmixed with 
oxygen, are generally spoken of as poisonous to the 
lungs, but they cannot be positive poisons when they 
are inhaled every breath, and the injurious and fatal 
effects from breathing these gases arise mainly from 
the absence of oxygen; for the flame of life will no 
more burn without the presence of oxygen than the 
flame of a candle. 

Crowded Kooms. — Oxygen gas being the vital ele- 
ment of the air, and being consumed by combustion, 
it follows that the air of crowded rooms where there 
is not a free circulation, and where a number of lights 
are burning, will soon become unfit for healthy respira- 
tion. And in addition to the drafts made on the air 
by burning lights, every person consumes from seven 
to ten cubic feet of air every minute. In view of these 
facts, we cannot be surprised at the deleterious effects 
that ensue from frequenting, at night, crowded assem- 
bly rooms, churches, theatres, and other places of 
public resort, where, to the health-destroying influences 
of impure air, are superadded loss of rest and other 
influences calculated to weaken the vital powers, and 
invite disease. The air of such places is not only 
deprived of its vitality: it is vitiated and actually 
poisoned by the exhalations from the skins and lungs 
of the sweltering multitude. We have already seen 
that every one throws off a large amount of dead, 
worn-out matter, which would be highly injurious to 
the system if retained. It is hardly necessary to say 
that these matters taken into the system of others, 
could not be very conducive to health. But there is 
another consideration in connection with this confined 



OF AIK. 77 

air, and the very thought of it makes us shudder 1 
Oh, that the following picture may make an impression 
on the poor deluded devotees of fashion, that can 
never be effaced ! Oh, that it may rise up before them 
in every crowded place of public resort, like a bloody 
ghost, and cause them to flee such places as they would 
a deadly charnel-house ! The air of these places con- 
tains not only the dead and worn-out matters thrown 
off by healthy persons, but, oh, horrors ! it is loaded 
with the loathsome, sickening, deadly emanations of 
disease and corruption. Yes, the perfumed air that 
fans the cheek of Beauty, is freighted from the rotting 
lungs of consumption ; the warm breath that flushes 
the face of the blushing maiden has been heated in 
the feverish, boiling blood of the debauchee, and 
disease and rottenness are often commingled with 
every particle of the atmosphere. Ah, could all the 
multitudinous and indescribable horrors that stream 
up from a confined and closely packed multitude, as- 
sume a visible, tangible form — could each foul particle 
take a bodily shape, and then could all these be united 
in one great, bloated, putrid mass, the awful shape 
would so deeply grave itself upon the brain, that it 
could never be erased. It should never be forgotten, 
then, that the most concentrated and deadly impurities 
to which we can possibly be exposed, are to be en- 
countered in a close room filled with human beings. 
And places of feasting, dancing, and theatrical enter- 
tainment, where ventilation is disregarded, and where 
precious hours are frittered away in idle and corrupt- 
ing amusements, are fatal alike to physical and moral 



78 OF AIR. 

well-being, and are often the entrance- chambers to 
death and hell. 

The Air of Cities. — The whole air of cities, and 
other places where numbers are congregated, is more 
or less impure, as a necessary consequence of the 
various foreign elements commingled with it. But we 
feel confident, if the laws of Hygiene were known and 
diligently enforced by city authorities, that the out- 
door atmosphere, at least, might be rendered compara- 
tively healthful ; sufficiently so, at any rate, to banish 
those wide-wasting epidemics, cholera, yellow fever, &c. 
But the best directed efforts of city authorities can do 
but little more, in the present state of things, than to 
abate external and public nuisances, and check the 
spread of epidemics. For after all, health-preserving 
measures, to be effective, must begin at home: the 
people, with whom every radical and permanent reform 
must commence, must be taught the laws of health ; 
and they must be taught moreover the great truth, 
that obedience to those laws is second in importance 
only to the obligations of the moral law. And indeed, 
these laws may be properly considered as part, and a 
most material part, of our moral obligations. For no 
one can be held guiltless, in the sight of Grod, who 
remains in willing ignorance of those laws, or who 
disregards them when known, and thus becomes guilty 
of the crime of self-destruction. Oh that all could 
receive this great truth ! Oh that all would consider 
the preservation of health as a duty, as a part of their 
religion, as a sacred obligation due to themselves, to 
their Creator, and to their race ! One of the greatest 
evils of city life is the crowding of multitudes in gar- 



OF AIK. 79 

rets, cellars, and other dark, damp, narrow, filthy, and 
confined habitations. Ah, it is enough to make the 
heart sick to think of the moral and physical deteri- 
oration of our fellow-creatures, where the sexes are 
huddled together without distinction, like cattle, in 
these pestilential dens. From these centres of infec- 
tion, issue streams of corruption which poison the 
atmosphere, and spread contagion and death, moral 
and physical, through our cities. And these hot-beds 
of disease are to be found in every street, lane, and 
alley ; while the death-producing emanations from them 
are commingled with a whole atmosphere loaded with 
the effluvia from distilleries, cow-stables, hog-pens, 
soap factories, slaughter-houses, grave-yards, and ten 
thousand other air-contaminating agencies peculiar to 
cities. No wonder then, that " Death rides on every 
passing breeze," nor wants for victims to feed upon in 
our populous and dirty cities. 

Can Nothing be done? — What Women can do. 
— And can nothing be done to remedy this dreadful 
state of things ? Shall the appeals of philanthropy, of 
Christianity, of common humanity, and self-preserva- 
tion, all pass alike unheeded? Surely not. Surely 
woman, pure, tender-hearted, loving woman, will do 
something to redeem her unfortunate fellow-creatures, 
and especially her own sex, from the thraldom of vice, 
disease, and death. Surely she will study and practice 
the laws of health herself, and do all that she can to 
diffuse hygiene knowledge among the masses, until 
the majority of the people shall be so far enlightened 
as to co-operate with our legislators in carrying out a 
thorough, radical, home reform of the evils to which we 



80 CAPACITY OF THE LUNGS. 

have adverted. This can be done ; this must be done ; 
this will be done ; and that mainly through the in- 
strumentality of woman — the greatest, the best of all 
reformers. Who, but her, has banished profane 
swearing from good society ? Who, but her, has put 
an end to fashionable tippling ? Who can do more 
than she — who has done more in every great moral 
and social reform ? And this is a work peculiarly her 
own; it is a work of philanthropy, of loving-kind- 
ness — it is a womanly work : it involves no conten- 
tions about "woman's rights," — no noisy and unfemi- 
nine assemblages — all that is necessary is to read, 
practice, and disseminate the great truths of Hygiene — 
to visit the poor and the sick — to minister to their 
wants, and to teach them that there is a "better way," 
physically as well as morally — and then, the work is 
done! For if the people could be thus enlightened, 
the evils of which we now so bitterly complain could 
not long exist in the United States of America, where 
all power belongs to the masses. 

Gapacity of the Lungs. 

Effects of Impure Air, &c. — Impure air not only 
poisons the blood, as we have seen, but it diminishes 
the breathing capacity; for when the air is loaded 
with foreign and irritating matters, the air-passages 
contract spasmodically, so that the necessary quantity 
of air does not enter the lungs. 

Sedentary Habits. — Seamstresses. — Sedentary 
habits are very unfavorable to full and free expansion 
of the lungs ; and women, from the nature of their 
occupations, are peculiarly exposed to the dangers 



CAPACITY OF THE LUNGS. 81 

arising from this source. But many of the evils now 
considered unavoidable may be escaped by attention to 
the following directions, which are specially designed 
to invigorate the muscles of respiration, and to increase 
the quanity of air breathed. It is unfortunately true 
that many women are compelled by stern necessity to 
spend almost every hour over the needle, or in some 
occupation scarcely less injurious ; but much can be 
done to alleviate the hard lot, and preserve the health 
even of these unfortunates, if they can be induced to 
practice those things that are calculated to counteract 
the health-destroying influences by which they are 
surrounded. And it is not too much to hope that the 
use of hygienic means, so far as circumstances will 
permit, together with the change of employment con- 
sequent on the more general introduction of sewing- 
machines, will, ere long, relieve the victims of the 
needle from the ills under which they have so long 
groaned. 

Fashionable Ladies. — This is a large class that 
suffers no less from confinement and want of air than 
the one just alluded to. And we are sorry to add that 
most of these have nothing to plead in extenuation 
of their disregard of one of the first great laws of 
health. Therefore their case is even more hopeless 
than that of the toiling slaves of necessity ; because 
their condition is voluntary, many of them being wil- 
ling self -offered victims. These fashionable off- shoots 
of modern society, these "nice" young ladies, consider 
it vulgar to appear abroad on foot, and they would 
ride in a carriage to the kitchen, if they ever had 
occasion to go there ; they spend their days in loung- 

F 



82 CAPACITY OF THE LUNGS. 

ing on sofas in parlors, from which the bright sun- 
light of heaven and the pure air are excluded with as 
much pertinacity as a poor relation, or one of the 
" lower class," who does not affect gentility and aris- 
tocracy. And can such deluded creatures as these ex- 
pect to enjoy health ? How can they expect anything 
but contracted chests, crooked spines, round shoulders, 
consumption, physical and mental imbecility, and an 
early grave ? And alas ! with many the delusion, if it 
may be called a delusion, is wilful. As strange as it may 
appear, they are not entirely ignorant ; many of them 
are educated, and, though their reading is confined 
mostly to the "last new novel," they know something 
of the laws of health ; they know, at any rate, that air 
was made to breathe, and that the absence of pure fresh 
air makes them feel very bad. But then they do not 
want to be stout and hearty! These are marks of 
plebeianism and rusticity — they are the characteristics 
of "common people" — "country girls" who roam 
about the fields, and even condescend to engage in the 
vulgar and " ungenteel" employments of domestic life. 
All of which is decidedly unbecoming and unfashion- 
able : for it is fashionable to be sick. Lilies are pre- 
ferred to roses — the pale cheek and languishing air 
are so much more "interesting" according to modern 
notions, than the ruddy complexion, and the free 
elastic step. Well may we say, in the face of such 
folly and perversity as this, that these cases are 
almost hopeless ! For we hardly know how to address 
those who thus wilfully violate the laws of their 
being — who sin against themselves and their God, and 
barter the most precious treasure of life for trifles 



CAPACITY OF THE LUNGS. 83 

lighter than air ! Oh ! that the republican women of 
America would cease all affectation of aristocracy, and 
especially that kind of aristocracy or gentility, or 
rather foolery, which sneers at useful labor, and con- 
siders blooming health an evidence of vulgarity ! 

Intense Mental Application. — Light Beading. 
— Intense application of the mind interrupts free 
breathing, and prevents full expansion of the lungs. 
Hence writers and literary persons should sedulously 
use every means calculated to counteract the tendency 
to contraction of the chest, and consequent diminution 
of vitality. And it should be remembered that im- 
perfect respiration is not only the result of abstruse 
investigations, but also of that species of "light read- 
ing" so common among ladies. In this kind of read- 
ing the feelings are skillfully wrought up to a high 
state of excitement by the writer, until the breathing 
is almost suspended by anxiety, suspense, and other 
emotions awakened by the thrilling story, in which 
the mighty passions of love, anger, remorse, revenge, 
&c, are so vividly depicted as to steal away our con- 
sciousness, and make us forget that it is all a dream 
of fancy. 

Bad Positions. — These are often associated with 
intense mental application, and they are then particu- 
larly injurious. Persons who are in the habit of 
writing or reading, with the body bent forward, are 
exposed to the combined influence of two causes of 
deformity and contracted chest, that no constitution 
can long withstand. These bad positions prevent the 
full expansion of the lungs by compressing the chest, 
and interfering with the breathing muscles. 



84 MEANS OF EXPANDING THE LUNGS. 

Means of Expanding the Lungs. 

Tends to promote Health. — The capacity of the 
lungs being the measure of vitality ; or in other words, 
the quantity of air, our lungs may be able to contain, 
being the evidence of our power to resist disease and 
death, it follows that everything that increases the 
capacity of the lungs, tends to promote health and 
long life. These things are therefore worthy of 
special attention. 

Directions for the Sedentary. — Those who are 
necessarily compelled to sit much, should if possible 
have intervals devoted to exercise ; and this exercise 
should be as prolonged and vigorous, as their bodily 
strength will allow. And if it be so that they cannot 
spare any considerable and fixed time for exercise, 
they should frequently arise from their seats, and 
bring the muscles of the chest and abdomen into 
action, by widely extending the arms, by elevating 
them, by moving them rapidly and forcibly backward 
and forward; and by throwing the shoulders back, 
and at the same time inhaling as much air as the lungs 
can possibly contain, and then " breathing out" slowly. 
Running up a flight of stairs, at the same time "hold- 
ing the breath," is a most excellent and available mode 
of expanding the lungs, recommended by Dr. Hall, in 
his late work, " Health and Disease." Another mode 
of expanding the lungs, suggested by the same writer, 
and one accessible to all, is to "blow up" or fill life- 
preservers, bladders, &c, by blowing into them. In 
the absence of any such things the lungs might be 
very well inflated by drawing in the breath "full and 
long," and then blowing in the closed hand. The 



MEANS OF EXPANDING THE LUNGS. 85 

advantage of these modes, is that the lungs are very 
powerfully distended by the expansion of the air 
drawn into them, through the agency of heat, in 
accordance with a principle, with which almost every- 
body is familiar. This is more particularly true of 
the running-up- stairs mode, which we consider a most 
happy idea. The above directions are so easily fol- 
lowed, even by those who "have no time" to attend 
to their health, that it seems strange that any one 
should neglect them, when convinced of the vital im- 
portance of well-filled and well-developed lungs to 
health. Neglect of these simple and accessible mea- 
sures on the part of the sedentary, arises more from in- 
disposition to exertion, than from want of time and 
opportunity. In such persons this indisposition is 
almost insuperable ; and nothing can overcome it 
except a firm ever-present conviction, that health and 
life are the prizes to be obtained by breaking the fatal 
spell of indolence. The fact is, where one is subjected 
to unavoidable disease from confinement, there are 
hundreds of thousands who ignorantly or wilfully 
neglect the means of counteracting the evils to which 
they are exposed from the nature of their occupation. 
Directions for those who have more leisure. — 
The directions above given are applicable to all, but 
they are intended more particularly for the sedentary 
and for the toiling millions who have to labor for their 
daily bread. Those who have more leisure may ex- 
ercise the muscles of the chest, arms, and abdomen, 
and thus increase the breathing capacity, by throwing 
weights, and by grasping something above the head, 
and then raising the body by the arms. The latter 
8 



86 MEANS OF EXPANDING THE LUNGS. 

is a most excellent mode of exercising the breathing 
muscles, and it should not be rejected because it may 
look a little unlady-like for a grown woman to be 
swinging by the arms child-fashion. Every one can 
have a small ladder, or something of the kind, in her 
room, and, in the absence of anything else, she can 
hang herself up by grasping the top of the door. 
These motions should be practiced every morning at 
least. And those who take but little out-door exer- 
cise, and who are so fortunate, or rather unfortunate, 
as not to be compelled to labor, will find these lung- 
expanding and health-promoting exercises much bet- 
ter for them in every way than any "piano practice." 
In addition to these special means of expanding the 
chest, every woman who desires health and happiness 
should take as much out-door exercise as circumstances 
will permit. We will recur to this under a subse- 
quent head. 

Women should not submit to ^Restraints. — ISTo 
false notions of gentility and propriety — no unreason- 
able subserviency to public opinion should deter any 
woman from engaging in sports or exercises that will 
increase the size of her lungs, and fill them with an 
abundance of pure health-giving and life-sustaining 
air. For, after all, many of the restraints laid on 
women are absurd, unreasonable, and destructive in 
their effects -on health, and should therefore be disre- 
garded : for what if upper-tendom does sneer, and what 
if moustached, Frenchified dandies do call you vulgar ! 
You have a natural and inalienable right "to life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ;" and the daugh- 
ters of the heroes of '76 should sternly resist any 



CHANGE OF AIR. 87 

tampering with their birthright ; and especially by a 
brainless set of fools and simpering jackdaws, who 
would sacrifice life to a shoe-buckle if Fashion so 
decreed. Should there be any who have not the 
courage to stem the tide of fashionable folly, and to 
seek health at all hazards, we particularly commend 
to them the special means of developing the breathing 
muscles which may be used in private. Yet we must 
be permitted to add that no compromise should be 
made with error, and that no woman who takes a 
proper view of things will make any concessions when 
the senseless requisitions of Fashion come in conflict 
with the high and sacred obligations of Health. 
Better, far better, to be considered unfashionable, and 
even vulgar, than to spend a few sad days in gilded 
misery, and then to rot in an early grave ! 

Change of Air. 

No Advantage in Change in itself. — The remark > 
able benefits that have been witnessed from a change of 
place in some cases of sickness, have given rise to the 
prevalent idea that there is something magical and 
wonderfully curative in the very change itself, apart 
from the concomitants of such change. But as pure 
air is essentially the same the world over, it is obvious 
that no change can be beneficial unless it be a change 
from an impure atmosphere, or one in some way un- 
suited to the case, to one more suitable by its purity, 
moisture, dryness, temperature, or something of this 
kind. Where these conditions of the air are more 
favorable, a change from a better to a worse air may 
be beneficial in some cases ; yet it should be remem- 



88 MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC. 

bered that the improvement is due to the accidental 
state of the air and the concomitants of the change, 
such as traveling, new scenery, &c. : in short, that the 
invalid improves in spite of the bad air. There is no 
foundation then for the notion that a change is benefi- 
cial in any case merely as a change ; and it is still more 
absurd to suppose that impure air can be better in 
itself than pure air. As just intimated, there are many 
accidental conditions that modify the action of air on 
the human system ; and hence some cases might be 
benefited by a change from a pure dry air to an atmo- 
sphere comparatively impure but moist. And this is 
the reason perhaps why the inhabitants of the most 
airy part of Edinburgh find it beneficial to send their 
children with hooping-cough to Cowgate street, a 
street filled with filth and water. 

Means of purifying the Air, etc. 

Private Booms — Fires — Ventilation. — It has 
been seen that there is a very close connection 
between our fires and the air of our rooms. In 
addition to the chemical changes, the air of a room 
is altered as to its density and moisture by the 
burning of a fire ; and in many cases these conditions 
are as important as the chemical constitution of the 
air. Fires are also most important agents of ventila- 
tion, by keeping up a current through a room, and 
by passing off impurities through the chimney; 
provided the air can enter the room freely. Hence 
every room in which a fire is kept burning should 
be well supplied with air, so as to make a sufficient 
current to drive impurities up the chimney. 



MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC. 89 

Fire-places and Stoves. — Fire-places are far pre- 
ferable to stoves for purposes of ventilation. Stoves 
radiate more heat through a room than fire-places, 
and are therefore more economical, but they rarify 
and dry the air more than fire-places, and conse- 
quently render it less fit for breathing. The fact 
is, we look on stoves as among the greatest curses 
of "modern civilization;" but as they will, in all 
probability, continue to be used through considera- 
tions of comfort and economy, we cannot too strongly 
insist on the vital importance of having a free ingress 
of air when a room is heated by a stove. Moisture 
should also be provided for:* dry warm air is 
heating and irritating to the lungs, exciting inflam- 
mation, cough, and "bleeding at the lungs," when 
these organs are predisposed to disease. And even 
where there is no special predisposition, actual disease 
may soon be developed by confinement in a close 
room heated by a stove. The influence of breathing 
a highly rarified air is not sufficiently appreciated; 
yet it must be manifest, on a moment's reflection, that 
a volume of air that is heated and expanded must 
contain less oxygen or vitality than an equal volume 
not so expanded. It follows then that air heated by 
a stove or fire-place, and especially by the former, if 
the room be close, is to a considerable extent unfit for 
breathing for want of a sufficiency of the vital ele- 
ment of respiration. Persons whose breathing capa- 
cities are diminished from disease, or whose chests are 
naturally small, on going into a room filled with rari- 



* By placing a vessel of water on the stove. 
8* 



90 MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC. 

fled air are troubled with shortness of breath, a feel- 
ing as if the lungs could not be sufficiently filled, an 
indescribable sense of uneasiness, a faintness, dizzi- 
ness, &c. 

Smoking Lamps, &c. — How to purify the Air. — 
Smoking lamps and candles not only exhaust the air 
of its oxygen — they send up volumes of rank offensive 
gases which poison the atmosphere of a room and 
render it highly offensive to those not accustomed to 
such things ; and yet, strange as it may appear, many 
become so habituated to this odor that they never per- 
ceive it. 

The remedy is obvious. Besides the free admission 
of air, there is a special method of purifying the atmo- 
sphere of a room that is very convenient and effectual, 
and should therefore be generally adopted. This is 
simply to open all the doors and windows, and then 
to swing one door violently backward and forward so 
as to fan out the room. This is a highly useful pro- 
cedure in cases of sickness. 

Sleeping-Kooms. — Special attention should be 
given to the ventilation of sleeping-rooms, for pure 
air and an abundance of it are more necessary 
when we are asleep than when we are awake. 
Sleeping-rooms should be large, high, and airy. 
But many stow themselves away at night, in little, 
low, air-tight pigeon-holes, as if sleep suspended 
respiration and rendered air unnecessary. No one 
should ever sleep in a close room with all the 
doors and windows closed: even in the coldest 
weather, at least one window should be partly raised 
so as to admit fresh air, so arranging it as to avoid 



MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC. 91 

a draft or current on the sleeper. Sleeping-rooms 
should not be less than twelve feet square, and 
they should not be encumbered with any furniture, 
except what is absolutely necessary. Flowers should 
not be left in vases, &c, in a sleeping-room. Bed- 
curtains should be banished from bed-rooms as 
worse than useless, for if fresh air is admitted into 
the room, it is more or less excluded from the 
bed by the curtains, while the sleeper is compelled 
to breathe over and over again, an air exhausted 
of its vitality, and poisoned by the exhalations 
from the body. So let bed- curtains go the way of 
baby caps, and be numbered among the things that 
were. 

"Bad Colds." — Night Air. — Persons who will 
follow the above directions, need not be alarmed 
about "bad colds," for the plan prescribed, so far 
from causing colds, is one of the most effectual 
preventives: the fact is, more colds are caused by 
heat than by cold, and where one is injuriously 
affected by the direct effects of cold, there are 
hundreds who die from breathing an impure, over- 
heated air, and from the effects of changes for 
which they are wholly unprepared, on account of 
their habits. How often is it the case that one, 
who has been in the habit of sleeping in a close 
ceiled room, is compelled in traveling or visiting, to 
spend a night in an open room, perhaps an unchinked 
log-cabin! And what is the consequence? A bad 
cold, if nothing worse, which is chargeable to the air- 
tight room at home, and not to the log-cabin. But, 
then, that night air, that horrid night air ! what shall 



92 MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC, 

we do about that ! Shall we allow this death-dealing 
visitant to roam freely through the sacred retreat 
where beauty reclines? Shall we suffer the horrid 
monster to kiss her fair cheek ? Yes, we say let him 
in ; for though he has been abused much, and though 
he does move about under cover of darkness, he was 
certainly created for some useful purpose ; and we are 
forced to the conclusion that night air was intended 
for human lungs, from the fact that those lungs continue 
to play by night as well as by day, while there is 
nothing for them to use at night hut night air. To 
speak seriously on this subject, nothing has been more 
prolific in disease and death than those popular errors 
which attribute all kinds of deadly effects to breath- 
ing night air ; for while it is admitted that night air 
may be impregnated with elements of disease in cer- 
tain marshy districts, it is equally true that it has 
nothing in itself more unfriendly to the human con- 
stitution than day air. And even admitting that night 
air may be the vehicle of ague and fever, or that it 
may sometimes be injurious from excessive dampness, 
or some other accidental condition, yet it cannot possi- 
bly be worse than the double concentrated extract of 
disease and death, generated in a close unventilated 
sleeping-room. So we say, choose the night air in 
preference to close confinement, under all circum- 
stances, and thus prepare the system for changes of 
weather, and for those unavoidable exposures to which 
all are incident in life. Avoid any unnecessary or 
rash exposure, but have air enough, at all hazards ; 
and should you be so unfortunate as to have a touch 
of the "chills," you have the agreeable satisfaction of 



MEANS OF PURIFYING THE AIR, ETC. 93 

knowing that yon have chosen the least of evils — that 
it is far better to have a short spell of a cnrable and 
not very dangerons disease, than a life-long train of 
incnrable aches and pains, the end whereof is an early 
grave. 

Late Suppers. — An over-loaded stomach presses np 
the midriff, thus diminishing the breathing capacity ; 
and consequently the circulation of the blood is dis- 
turbed, the brain is over-loaded, giving rise to horrid 
dreams, nightmare, sleepwalking, &c. There can be 
no doubt that many of the "mysterious dispensations 
of Providence," in which persons go to bed well and 
are found dead in the morning, might with more jus- 
tice, be charged to late and heavy suppers, than to 
God. 

Air of Public Conveyances. — Though we are 
whirled through the air at a rapid rate on railroads 
and steamboats, we often suffer intolerably for the 
want of pure fresh air ; and there can be no doubt 
that neglect of ventilation in our crowded public 
conveyances is a most fruitful source of disease. 
The fact is, there are very few that can take a jaunt 
of any length on a railroad or steamboat and escape 
unharmed. For example : we once lived in Alabama, 
where it was customary for the planters to take 
steamboat and visit Mobile, some two hundred miles 
distant, and so common was it for every one to 
return with a "cold" that we could generally tell 
who had been on a steamboat voyage from this 
circumstance. 

It is hardly necessary to add that the same rules of 
ventilation apply alike to all apartments, whether sta- 



94 OF LIGHT. 

tionary or in motion, whether a house or a railroad car ; 
yet this obvious truth seems to have been strangely 
overlooked or criminally disregarded by the public 
carrying department. 



CHAPTER III. 
OF LIGHT. 

Effects of Light on Plants, &c. — To appreciate 
the effects of light on organized bodies, it is only neces- 
sary to observe those plants that grow up in the shade. 
Plants thus excluded from the light are colorless, 
sickly, and brittle. Light has the power of reversing 
completely the vital and chemical changes of vegetable 
life, for vegetation absorbs carbon and gives out oxy- 
gen in the day, while at night just the reverse is the 
case. It is not at all unreasonable to suppose that a 
similar control is exerted over animal life by light. But 
we are not left to supposition in this matter : the sal- 
low bloodless faces, and the feeble bodies of the deni- 
zens of narrow streets and alleys, and dark cellars, 
demonstrate the analogy between the animal and vege- 
table kingdoms in their relations to light. The reason 
why the influence of light over animal life has attracted 
so little attention, is because its absence has generally 
been associated with bad air, unwholesome food, filth, 
and other circumstances which have been considered 
sufficient in themselves to account for ill health. 

How it acts on Animal Life — Yeiled Ladies — 



OF DRINKS. 95 

Shade Trees. — Light has a powerful influence in 
decomposing and dissipating poisonous emanations; 
it also gives color and firmness to the skin, and is 
doubtless necessary to that full physical development 
that constitutes a perfect form — one of the greatest 
beauties of woman. Ladies, then, who keep them- 
selves and their children excluded from the sun-light 
of heaven — who remain shut up in dark rooms, or 
who go out hooded and veiled, to prevent the warm 
and healthful kisses of the sun, violate an important 
law of health and beauty. It is hardly necessary to 
say that light should be a prime consideration' in the 
construction of houses, both for convenience and 
health. Shade trees and shrubbery should not be 
crowded around the windows so as to intercept the 
light, for besides obstructing the light they give off 
hurtful emanations, and particularly at night. 



CHAPTEK IV. 

OF DRINKS. 

Nature's Beverage. — Water is 
and only beverage. For milk, though consisting largely 
of water, is made subservient to the animal economy 
not as a diluent or vehicle, but as a solid nutriment 
by means of the butter, caseine, &c, that enter into its 
composition. Water then is the only drink provided 
by nature for plants and animals; and as nature is 
only another name for unerring Wisdom itself, it 



U6 OF DRINKS. 

follows that water should be the only beverage of per- 
sons in health. 

Uses of "Water to the Economy. — Water con- 
stitutes much the larger portion of the entire bulk of 
the human body ; it is the vehicle by which all nourish- 
ment is conveyed into the blood, and through the blood 
to every part of the system for its replenishment. 
"Water conveys to the excretory or cleansing organs, 
all the waste, worn-out, irritating matters ; and it is 
the only thing that can circulate freely and constantly 
throughout every part of the body without irritation 
or injury. It, then, is the great solvent, diluent, 
purifier, sedative, and carrier of animal and vegetable 
life ; it dissolves everything that passes into the system, 
and everything that passes out, so far as this is neces- 
sary ; it mingles with all the elements of the body and 
dilutes them, or tempers them down, so that they may 
circulate through the most delicate and sensitive parts 
without the least injury or excitement ; it purifies by 
washing out every part ; it soothes by purifying, and 
by its direct sedative and cooling properties ; and 
finally it conveys as a universal animal solvent. With 
these facts before us, is it not strange that the question 
should have ever been discussed as to whether man is 
a drinking animal or not? And is it not still more 
strange that a few have ably argued the negative, thus 
making "the worse appear the better reason?" 

The Quantity of Water required. — The quan- 
tity of water demanded by the system depends greatly 
on our habits with regard to diet, exercise, &c. 
Those who use a concentrated, highly seasoned, or 
dry diet, or those who take active exercise, will of 



OF DEINKS. 97 

course drink more than others under opposite circum- 
stances. Those who eat freely of cooling watery- 
vegetables may find it necessary to drinK but little. 
But after all there is nothing that will produce those 
direct, cooling, soothing, and satisfying effects which 
we experience from a draught of pure cold water 
fresh from the hand of Nature, as she pours it from 
her crystal founts. As we have just seen, some con- 
tend that it is not necessary to drink at all — that 
sufficient fluid can be supplied to the body by a 
properly selected diet ; there are others who seem to 
think that the stomach was only designed as a reser- 
voir for water — that it should always be kept filled 
to its utmost capacity, so as to afford an abundant 
stream to be poured through the skin, and all the 
excretory outlets : and thus they would make human 
beings something like traveling fountains ! This ex- 
travagant use of water has become quite fashionable 
under the auspices of Hydropathy, and is the legiti- 
mate result of that exclusiveness and one-ideaism 
which would confine all medical virtue to a single 
remedy. This abuse of water must be injurious, by 
over-distending the stomach, and by diluting too much 
the gastric juice ; but no rule as to quantity can be 
given that would be appropriate for every one. 
Healthy persons may follow the dictates of nature, 
and drink according to thirst ; but it should be dis- 
tinctly remembered that stimulating food and drinks, 
some kinds of mental excitement, and some occupa- 
tions, create a morbid or unhealthy thirst, which, 
though it may be a correct guide as to the wants of 
the system under the circumstances, as plainly indi 
9 G 



98 OF DRINKS. 

cates that there is something wrong in our habits. 
Therefore it is the part of wisdom, whenever we find 
that our desire for water is much greater than usual, 
carefully to review our manner of living, so that Ave 
may trace this symptom to its source, and by a timely 
reformation avoid impending disease. 

Time for Drinking. — As to the time for drinking 
water, something like a correct general rule may be 
given. It is injurious to take a large quantity of 
water or any other fluid while eating, or while diges- 
tion is going on. It follows, then, that the best time 
for drinking is when the stomach is comparatively 
empty. Hydropaths are great advocates for profuse 
-w&ter-drenchings early in the morning ; but we can see 
no advantage from this, unless it be that the stomach 
is more empty at that time ; and it is also probable 
that the passing off of morbid matters is facilitated. 
Aside from these considerations, we can see no 
reason why it would not be just as well to take our 
principal supply of water about four or five hours 
after eating. But there are many exceptions to the 
general rule above given; for there may be cases 
where, from the dryness of the food, or from the 
peculiar condition of the stomach, or from the state of 
the general system, it may be useful to drink pretty 
freely while eating, or very soon afterwards. So, 
after all, the best rule is to try to live right ; to regu- 
late our habits so as to keep all the organs in a healthy 
condition, and then follow the dictates of Nature, drink- 
ing according to thirst, with the full assurance that 
she will be a safer guide, under those circumstances 
than all the rule-makers and theorists in the world. 



OF DRINKS. 99 

Temperature of Drinks. — As to the temperature 
of drinks, those that are cool or moderately warm are 
more healthful than those that are extremely hot or 
cold. And ; if our habits as to diet were as they 
should be, we would not have that morbid desire for 
very cold, iced, and acid drinks which so often leads 
to excessive indulgence and fatal consequences. The 
best plan, then, to avoid the dangers arising from this 
source, is to refrain from the use of highly seasoned 
food and stimulating drinks. By pursuing this course, 
it is highly probable that we might safely gratify any 
moderate and natural desire we might have for cold 
drinks. But, in the present mode of living, all who 
indulge in iced beverages are in great danger, because 
the desire is unnatural, acquired, while the very things 
that create the craving, at the same time render the 
system incapable of gratifying it with impunity. 
Ladies, in their attendance on night parties, and other 
places of public resort, are much exposed to dangers 
arising from the excessive use of cold drinks. At 
such places, there is a combination of circumstances 
well calculated to excite an unnatural artificial thirst, 
while the same influences render the system peculiarly 
susceptible to any morbid impression. These thirst- 
provoking and disease-inviting agencies are crowded 
and over-heated rooms, highly stimulating food and 
drinks, and in many cases a degree of mental excite- 
ment bordering on delirium, from the active play of 
all the social and moral feelings that can agitate the 
human breast. These combined excitants fan the 
whole organism into a feverish flame ; the lungs are 
heated and debilitated, the brain is feverish, the nerves 



100 AETIFICIAL DEINKS. 

are agitated, the stomach is oppressed ; and now a 
large draught of some iced and acid beverage is taken, 
and incurable disease or sudden death is the sad con- 
sequence. Those who have weak lungs are peculiarly- 
exposed to the dangers we are endeavoring to depict ; 
and a single glass of ice-cream, or draught of ice- 
water, under the circumstances mentioned, has too 
often been like a chalice charged with a deadly hemlock! 
A Warning to Women. — In view of these dangers, 
then, we would most earnestly warn our fair readers 
against the use of very cold drinks, and especially at 
night parties, when the body is heated and debilitated. 
Kely not on your youth, and your vigorous constitu- 
tion ; and be not lulled into false security by the 
absence of any immediate ill effects ; for be assured 
that/ew, veey few, can indulge with impunity — that 
slow dyspepsia, or some insidious form of disease, will 
be the result, though the consequences may not always 
be immediate and manifest. The only safety, under 
such circumstances of excitement, is in total abstinence. 
Oh, that we could express all that we feel on this 
subject ! Oh, that we could effectually warn our fair 
countrywomen against the thoughtless indulgences of 
fashionable parties, which have hurried so many of 
the fairest and the best to the grave ! 

Artificial Drinks. 

Wines, Coedials, &o. — The artificial drinks intro- 
duced by the caterers to the depraved tastes of 
"modern civilization" are almost innumerable ; but we 
only propose to notice those in most common use, in 
their relations to health. As to the stronger alcoholic 



AKTIFICIAL DRINKS. 101 

drinks, brandy, rum, &c, &c, it is needless for us to 
say anything to ladies, for no warning is necessary to 
induce them to discountenance, both by precept and 
example, a habit so unlady-like, so destructive in its 
physical and moral effects, as the use of ardent spirits 
as a beverage. And women of all classes and condi- 
tions — in the humblest as well as the highest walks 
of life — will surely wage a ceaseless warfare against 
these fell destroyers which have murdered so many 
of their fathers, husbands, and brothers, and brought 
so many of their children to penury and rags. But a 
word of caution may be necessary as to the use of 
wines, cordials, liquors, and various Frenchified com- 
pounds that come under the head of "light innocent (!) 
drinks, suitable for the delicate palates of ladies." 
Even admitting that the pure juice of the grape is not 
hurtful, these wines and "fancy drinks" should be 
wholly rejected ; for most of them are vile compounds 
of home manufacture, containing various deleterious 
and even poisonous ingredients, which must be more 
or less detrimental to health, apart from the exciting 
effects of the alcoholic element. These drinks are 
made up of alcohol colored with logwood, and 
sweetened with sugar of lead and such like dye stuffs. 
We repeat, then, that all these should be entirely 
rejected; for, apart from their influence on health, 
women should never encourage a practice by their 
example, which may lead others to stronger drinks 
and a drunkard's grave. The whole class of alcoholic 
drinks, from the mildest to the strongest, should be 
regarded as medicines, useful, indeed, in some morbid 
9* 



102 ARTIFICIAL DRINKS. 

conditions, but fraught with danger when used either 
habitually or occasionally, in health, and as beve- 
rages. 

Tea and Coffee. — This is one of the vexed ques- 
tions in dietetics — doctors differ so much that we very 
much fear that people will take license to do pretty 
much as they please. Yet we feel in duty bound to 
give our views, however much they may conflict with 
those of others. Abd-el-Kadir says that "God has 
deprived fools of coffee, and the truth is not known 
except to the wise, who drink it from the foaming 
coffee cup." This sounds a little like the extravagance 
of Eastern hyperbole. The ultra-hydropaths, who 
look on sage-tea and mint-water as poisons, of course 
roundly denounce both tea and coffee even as medi- 
cines. Dr. Hall, a very popular writer, endeavors 
very cautiously to steer between extremes. He says 
in his "Journal of Health:" "Considering our habits 
of life, coffee, as a beverage for breakfast, is nutritious 
and healthful, and may be taken in moderation, for a 
lifetime, without failing of its advantageous effects. 
A single cup, moderately strong, never increased in 
strength, frequency, or quantity, is a positive good, 
and is far better than as much cold water at any meal, 
especially to invalids or persons of feeble digestion." 
All these restrictions and qualifications show plainly 
that the writer considers himself on very ticklish 
ground ; and when this defence is analyzed, what does 
it amount to? Why nothing, but a comparison of 
the effects of hot and cold drinks — a compromise with 
our bad habits — the admission of one evil to counter- 
act others, and a prescription for invalids. This mode 



AKTIFICIAL DRINKS. 103 

of treating the subject is very objectionable ; instead 
of making dietetic prescriptions to suit bad habits, 
the cause of truth requires that these habits should be 
boldly attacked, and the necessity for a doubtful and 
dangerous remedy be thus avoided. And even admit- 
ting that tea and coffee could be safely used after Dr. 
Hall's cautious manner, no one at all acquainted with 
human nature can believe, for a moment, that the 
drinking would be restricted to a single cup, at break- 
fast, moderately strong, and never increased in strength, 
frequency, or quantity. Why, it would be just about 
as easy to believe in the literal truth of Abd-el-Kadir's 
extravagant encomium, and to come to the conclusion 
that all coffee drinkers are exceedingly wise. 

Our Yiews — Properties of Tea and Coffee. — 
So much for the opinions of the doctors. By most of 
the people, these beverages are considered indispensa- 
ble necessaries absolutely essential to existence ; and 
many families would as soon think of doing without 
bread as without tea and coffee. To such we say, lay 
aside the prejudices of education, as far as possible, 
and hear the properties of these favorite drinks. It 
is admitted on all hands that tea and coffee contain 
very little nutriment ; that tea, and especially green 
tea, is astringent ; while both tea and coffee are narcotic 
stimulants, producing effects on the brain and nerves 
similar to those of opium, laudanum, &c. These 
things being so, then, surely no one will contend that 
astringents, stimulants, and narcotics are necessary 
for healthy persons ; on the contrary, all must admit 
that the free use of drinks possessed of these proper- 
ties must be injurious. Astringents draw and contract 



104 ARTIFICIAL DRINKS. 

the stomach and bowels, and diminish the healthy 
secretions ; stimulants and narcotics excite the heart, 
brain, and nerves, and this excitement is followed by 
dullness, and a general sinking and giving way of the 
mind and body when the accustomed stimulus is with- 
drawn. Such being the effects of tea and coffee, they 
cannot be properly regarded either as food or drink ; 
and they must therefore be placed among the medi- 
cines, with alcohol, opium, and such like. As medi- 
cines, they are unobjectionable ; and they might often 
be used to great advantage in disease, to the exclusion 
of more dangerous remedies, if the brain and nerves 
were not blunted and paralyzed by their habitual use 
as beverages. These views will doubtless be regarded 
by many as the idle fancies of a dreamer ; but though 
they may be ridiculed now, we believe that truth will 
ultimately prevail; that a physiological millennium 
has already dawned on this disease smitten earth ; and 
we trust that the day is not very far distant, when the 
general diffusion of sound hygienic knowledge will 
banish tea and coffee from the table, and place them 
on the shelves of the apothecary. 

Effects of Tea and Coffee on Women and 
Children. — The common practice of allowing chil- 
dren two or three cups of strong coffee or tea at each 
meal, cannot be too strongly condemned. In children, 
the nervous system is highly excitable, and the use 
of these beverages increases the tendency to convul- 
sions and other grave affections originating in over- 
excitement of the brain and nerves. If a child be 
trained physically, in the "way in which he should 
go" — if proper attention be paid to air, exercise, diet, 



ARTIFICIAL DRINKS. 105 

clothing, and bathing, there will be no necessity for 
any artificial excitants to drive the vital machinery, 
except in some extreme cases of hereditary or con- 
genital weakness ; and even original constitutional 
defects can be much better remedied by a judicious 
use of the hygienic agents mentioned, than by the use 
of all the nervines, stimulants, and tonics in the whole 
drug catalogue. Many of the general and peculiar 
disorders so common among women, doubtless arise 
from the excessive use of tea and coffee. Some of 
these can only be mentioned in this place. " Whites," 
which is one of the most common disorders to which 
women are subject, is caused in many cases by indul- 
gence in tea, coffee, and other warm enervating " slops." 
These drinks render the blood thin and watery, while 
they relax and weaken the blood-vessels, so that they 
pour out this whitish discharge, or a thin watery 
blood : in the first case, the discharge is called "whites" 
— in the second, excessive menstruation. The general 
derangements of health arising from the use of tea 
and coffee are too numerous to be mentioned even: 
some of them are disorders of the nervous system, 
such as headache, trembling, hysterics, and all the 
nameless ills embraced in the term "nervousness:" 
besides these we have indigestion with its manifold 
symptoms, &c, &c. And there can be no doubt that 
the complexion is injured by these drinks, and par- 
ticularly by the use of coffee ; for reason would teach 
us that any habit that would produce the serious 
derangements mentioned, would affect the skin ; and 
our reasoning is fully confirmed by observation. For 



106 ARTIFICIAL DRINKS. 

proof, look at the sallow wrinkled skins of confirmed 
coffee drinkers. 

Total Abstinence. — In conclusion, then, we advise 
our readers, as they value their own health, as they 
value the health of their children, as they prize the 
charms of all-powerful beauty, to refrain from the 
use of tea and coffee as beverages. Declare total 
abstinence except as medicines ; for if a great deal will 
do mvxh harm, a little will do some harm ; and as we 
are constantly liable to excess, even admitting that 
there is a safe point of very moderate, Hall indulgence, 
it is better, far better, to follow the advice so strongly 
insisted on with regard to alcoholic and iced drinks. 

Chocolate. — This being destitute of the stimulating 
and narcotic properties of tea and coffee, is much more 
wholesome. Indeed, there is nothing objectionable 
about this drink, except the large quantity of oil it 
contains. This makes it difficult of digestion, and 
therefore unsuitable for weak stomachs: except in 
such cases, the cause of health would be much pro- 
moted by the substitution of chocolate for tea and 
coffee. 

Hot-water Tea.— Hot-water tea (Dr. Hall's " cam- 
bric tea") used to be quite common in the days of our 
childhood, and it would be well for us to return to it. 
Being made of simple hot water mixed with milk and 
sugar, it is highly nourishing, unstimulating, and 
entirely destitute of all injurious properties ; and 
besides, the temperature can be adapted to the condi- 
tion of the stomach where cold drinks are objection- 
able. And in addition to all this, it is palatable to 
every taste which has not been blunted and perverted 



ARTIFICIAL DRINKS. 107 

by high, "seasonings" and strong drinks. We believe 
that ninety-nine children out of every hundred would 
take to hot-water tea as naturally as to their mother's 
milk, while the taste for tea and coffee is unnatural 
and acquired. 

Acidulous Drinks — Ale, Porter, &c, &c. — 
Acidulous drinks, such as lemonade and the expressed 
juice of various fruits, are unobjectionable when taken 
in moderation, but they are better in sickness than in 
health, and should never take the place of pure, sim- 
ple, unadulterated water. Soda water is water impreg- 
nated with carbonic acid gas ; it is grateful to the 
stomach, and wholesome with the above restrictions. 
Effervescing draughts, formed by the addition of tar- 
taric acid to soda, potash, &c, may be used as medi- 
cines, but cannot be recommended as ordinary drinks. 
The preparations containing ginger, as ginger pop, 
and ginger beer, are still more objectionable, because 
the ginger heats and irritates the stomach, to say 
nothing of the alcohol generated by the process of 
fermentation. The fashion of drinking ale and porter, 
so common in England, we believe has never ex- 
tended to the women of that beef-eating and beer- 
drinking nation ; and we trust that the custom will 
never be adopted in this country, either by men or 
women. Ah, what a dark catalogue it would be if all 
the diseases, crimes, and deaths, could be enumerated 
that have resulted from the custom of drinking wine, 
beer, ale, &c, "to aid digestion!" And we regret 
that some of our most distinguished medical writers 
have been so far blinded by custom and education 
as to commend this soul-and-body-destroying practice. 



108 MINERAL WATERS. 

Mineral Waters. 

Composition. — Mineral waters contain a great 
variety of ingredients, as iron, soda, potash, magnesia, 
sulphur, &c, &c. A preponderance of any one of 
these elements gives name to these waters, as chaly- 
beate waters where iron is a principal ingredient — 
sulphurous, or sulphur waters — carbonated, acidulous 
or acid waters, &c, &c. 

Not required by Well People. — How good 
Effects are lost in Disease. — Many mineral waters 
possess valuable medicinal properties, but it is alia mis- 
take to suppose that well people can be benefited by 
drinking them ; for the same rule still holds good— for 
healthy people the purer the water the better. And it is 
unfortunately the case, that the good effects of mineral 
waters are often lost in disease, from want of adapta- 
tion to each individual case, and from the bad manner 
in which watering-places are generally managed. 
People seem to have an idea that a mineral spring is 
— a mineral spring ; or in other words, that mineral 
waters are pretty much alike, and that nature has 
given all a specific adaptation to every kind of case. 
A more erroneous idea could not well be conceived, 
unless it be the no less prevalent notion that the nos- 
trums published in newspapers, are appropriate to all 
the cases for which they are recommended. To 
derive any medicinal benefit from "a trip to the 
springs" the case should be adapted to the water, just as 
we would select a remedy for the disease from the drug 
store. 

Cases in which Chalybeates are appropriate. 



MINERAL WATERS. 109 

— If iron is a principal ingredient of water, such is, 
as a general rule, adapted to cases in which the 
medicinal use of iron would be indicated : this would 
include diseases of debility, as green-sickness, some 
forms of dyspepsia, some nervous disorders, and some 
kinds of dropsies. Chalybeates being specifically 
adapted to cases of debility, it follows that they are 
entirely out of place in the opposite class of inflamma- 
tory affections. And even diseases in which debility 
is a prominent symptom often present themselves 
under forms and circumstances that would forbid the 
use of iron. The practical deduction from these facts 
is : that invalids should not choose a watering-place 
for themselves, but should consult their physician. 

The above remarks may with equal propriety be 
applied to every kind of mineral water — each has 
some prominent element or elements, that gives to it 
a special adaptation to a certain limited class of dis- 
orders, while in an opposite class it would be useless 
or injurious. 

Health-destroying Customs at Watering-pla- 
ces. — But even in cases where mineral waters are 
appropriate, their good effects are often entirely 
counteracted by the ruinous customs of fashionable 
watering-places. How can an invalid reasonably 
expect to improve when the diet is improper in 
quality, excessive in quantity, and irregular in time — 
when hours which should be devoted to rest, are spent 
in close crowded rooms where everything is adverse 
to health — where the air is poisoned — where the food 
and drink are deadly, and where the mind is often a 
prey to a strife of passions that fret and torture the 
10 



110 PURITY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF WATER. 

poor body, like a frail bark lashed by an angry 
storm ? 

Mineral Waters beneficial. — Though the good 
effects of mineral waters are thus counteracted — 
though they are often prescribed by physicians in 
hopeless cases to amuse the minds of patients, and to 
relieve themselves, and of course fail ; yet we believe 
that medicinal springs and wells were not made with- 
out a purpose — that God mercifully designed them 
for the healing of our maladies, and that they would 
be much more efficacious, if the circumstances just 
passed in review were regarded in resorting to them. 
It will be seen then that we stand opposed to the 
ultraists of these modern days, who would reject even 
their mothers' milk, if it were not adapted to their 
notions by a large admixture of water. 

Purity of different Kinds of Water. 

Minerals not injurious. — All water in percola- 
ting through the earth becomes more or less impreg- 
nated with various salts : a conclusive evidence this, 
that the " minerals" so much harped upon by modern 
reformers are not necessarily injurious to the ani- 
mal creation ; for it is nothing less than a wicked 
imputation on the wisdom and goodness of the 
Almighty to say that he has mingled "poisons" with 
the water provided for his creatures. 

Purity of Eain- Water, &c— Rain-w&ter, it is 
known, is the product of evaporation from the earth, 
sea, &c. ; and as all earthy and mineral matters are 
left in deposit by the evaporating process, it follows 
that rain-water is the purest of all natural waters. 



OF DIET. Ill 

Spring and well water contain more or less earthy and 
saline matters, according to the nature of the soil ; but 
as before intimated, these elements are not injurious, 
except in certain localities where they are found in 
great excess, causing the water to be so hard that it 
will not mix readily with soap. This excess of lime, 
in limestone regions, is a common cause of gravel and 
stone. 

Modes of purifying Water. — Of the many modes 
of purification, only one is adapted to general use : this 
is filtration. By this process, water may be deprived 
of all impurities except those in actual solution. Dis- 
tillation is the most effectual mode of purifying water, 
but is too troublesome for general use ; and besides, 
distilled water is insipid, artificial, and not so well 
adapted to our wants and necessities, as Nature's own 
beverage mixed with "minerals." 



CHAPTER Y. 

OF DIET. 

"In what thou eat'st and drinkest seek from thence 
Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight; 
So thou may'st live till, like ripe fruit, thou drop 
Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease 
Gather'd, not harshly pluck'd, for death mature." 

Animal Diet — Use and Abuse. — There have been 
a few in every age of the world who have existed 
exclusively on the fruits of the earth ; and it is well 



112 OF DIET. 

known that some ultraists and pseudo-reformers " in 
these modern days" contend that man should live on 
vegetable diet alone. But arguments founded on the 
injurious effects resulting from the abuse of animal 
food, cannot be opposed to its proper use ; and the fact 
that vegetarians have preserved health, and attained 
long life, is far from being conclusive, when the advo- 
cates of a mixed diet can appeal to the same argument, 
with equal, if not greater confidence ; and above all, 
when the latter have the Bible, the anatomical struc- 
ture of man, and the great mass of human experience 
in all ages, on their side. And as this evidence has 
never been satisfactorily confuted, we feel justified in 
assuming that man is omnivorous, and that a due 
admixture of animal and vegetable food is most 
suitable for his perfect development. 

In what our Errors consist. — The fact is, our 
dietetic errors consist, not so much in the quality of 
our food, as in its quantity — not so much in its actual 
nature, whether animal, vegetable, or mixed, as in its 
relative influence in connection with individual peculi- 
arities, habits, climate, modes of life, &c, &c. Instead, 
then, of generalizing as to the kind of food most 
suitable for the race, let us pursue the more reasonable 
and practical course of endeavoring to ascertain what 
is best relatively — what is best for each individual 
under the circumstances by which he may be sur- 
rounded. 

Diet for the Sedentary and Inactive. — Animal 
food may preponderate in the diet of those who lead 
an active laborious life, not only without injury, but 
with decided advantage ; for animal food is not only 



OF DIET. 113 

most nourishing and readily assimilated or changed 
into our bodies, but it is the most lasting and most 
invigorating. On the other hand, animal food is not 
only useless, but often positively injurious to those 
who lead an inactive, sedentary life ; for the body is 
over-nourished, heated, and excited by such a diet, and 
the system is rendered prone to inflammation, while 
the pores of the skin, and other safety-valves of the 
human machine, being closed up for want of exercise, 
a fatal explosion is often the result. How destructive 
must it be, then, for literary persons, and for women, 
who are generally much confined either from necessity, 
or through the customs of society, to indulge in meat 
three times a day! Such persons should eat very 
sparingly, if at all, of meat, and particularly of " hog- 
meat," which is certainly the most stimulating of all 
the articles of its class. Indeed, it would be better, 
as a general rule, for people who do not lead an active 
life, to refrain entirely from meat of all kinds. 

A Dreadful Explosion. — Figuratively, we have 
spoken of an "explosion" from indulgence in gross 
animal food in the absence of sufficient exercise to 
keep the safety-valves of the system open. And the 
figure is not far-fetched, for while there is no literal 
explosion, all the sad accidents from steam, with those 
from fire, wind, and flood, superadded, would bear no 
comparison to the multiplied thousands of the human 
race who have been hurried to the grave through 
want of exercise, combined with excessive or improper 
eating. 

Beauty, Health, and Mind lost. — Women, who 
consume too much gross food and take too little exer. 
10* II 



114 OF DIET. 

cise, are liable to indigestion with all its horrors of 
mind and body, and to a host of other maladies which 
we cannot even enumerate : the skin becomes thick, 
harsh, pimpled, and discolored — the breathing is 
tainted, sometimes contracting a nameless and most 
offensive odor — the features are swollen, dull, inex- 
pressive, and sometimes almost idiotic. Thus is lost 
"the smoothness and the sheen of beauty's cheek;" 
thus the sunlight of the immortal mind is clouded, 
and all the nameless charms of expression obscured. 

VlNEGAR AND GROSSNESS.— A BETTER WAY. — 

Under the above circumstances, an attempt is some- 
times made to restore the beauty of the complexion, 
and prevent excessive fatness, by the use of vinegar 
and other acids. The remedy may be successful, but 
success will most surely be attained at the expense 
of health; for acids can only accomplish the end 
designed, by interfering with the digestive and assimi- 
lative processes. The only safe and effectual remedies 
for grossness and pimples, are pure wholesome food 
in moderate quantities, and mostly vegetable ; pure 
air ; sufficient exercise, and frequent ablutions. These 
are the only cosmetics that should be resorted to, and 
they are the true elixirs of life and beauty. These 
agents are more effectual in the preservation of health 
and beauty than all the drugs, vegetable or mineral, 
in the whole long list. 

Individual Peculiarities as to Diet.— These 
peculiarities should be taken into consideratien in the 
selection of our food ; and they are either original or 
acquired. Persons may be weakly and puny from 
birth ; and their digestive organs may so far partake 



OF DIET. 115 

of the general debility as to assimilate vegetable food 
with difficulty ; for, as it has been seen, animal food 
is, as a general rule, more readily digested and con- 
verted into our tissues than vegetable food, because 
the former contains the elements of our bodies ready 
formed. Under these circumstances, all other things 
being equal as to exercise, habits of life, &c, more 
animal food might be beneficially used than would be 
proper under different circumstances. But great 
judgment should be exercised in these cases; and 
whenever it is deemed necessary to increase the pro- 
portion of animal food, strict attention, at the same 
time, should be given to pure air, regular exercise, &c. 
This course has a double advantage — it tends, as we 
have just seen, to counteract the injury that might 
result from an excess of animal diet, and it directly 
and most effectually aids in building up and invigora- 
ting the whole system. It would be well for mothers 
who have feeble scrofulous children, to remember 
these things. 

Acquired Peculiarities. — In adapting our food 
to our acquired peculiarities, even more caution is 
necessary ; for these peculiarities are often nothing 
more or less than diseases caused by errors in diet — ■ 
by those very kinds of food that seem to be necessary on 
account of the diseased condition. For instance, one 
may use a concentrated animal diet, small in bulk, but 
highly nutritive and exciting to the system ; and if 
this over-excitement is combined with a sedentary 
life, apoplexy will in all probability ensue, or dys- 
pepsia from contraction or diminished size of the 
stomach. Now, this state of things would require a 



116 OF DIET. 

more bulky and less stimulating diet ; but then the 
walls of the stomach have become permanently con- 
tracted from want of bulk in the food previously used, 
and consequently a bulky vegetable diet — the very one 
demanded — painfully distends the stomach, and cannot 
be borne. Under these circumstances, we are very 
apt to come to the conclusion that animal food is best 
for us, when it is really the cause of all our difficulties. 
The course in these cases is to make the change from 
an animal to a vegetable diet gradually, increasing 
the bulk of our food by degrees, as the stomach may 
be able. to bear it. 

Other Cases in illustration. — This subject is so 
important, that we may be excused for illustrating it 
by other habits connected more particularly with our 
eating and drinking. A lady is troubled with "ner- 
vousness v and headache: this is a "peculiarity" of 
hers requiring the use of strong coffee and tea, which 
give relief.. And yet this is an acquired peculiarity 
caused by this same tea and coffee. The headache 
and nervousness are the result of a kind of collapse 
or giving way caused by the withdrawal of an 
accustomed stimulant ; and thus the unfortunate victim 
of a pernicious habit is never " right/' except when 
under an unnatural and unhealthful excitement. The 
analogy between this state and that of the poor drunk- 
ard is obvious and complete, the only difference being 
in the degree, and not in the hind of excitement. 

Another Case. — Wind-Colic and Stimulants. — 
Another lady is troubled with dyspepsia and flatu- 
lency, or wind-colic; she cannot digest her food 
without the use of pungent stimulants and seasonings 



OF DIET. 117 

such as spices, mustard, pepper, &c, &c. And yet, in 
all probability, the loss of tone in the stomach, which 
requires a resort to these excitants to rouse it to action, 
has been occasioned by the excessive use of condi- 
ments ; for the ultimate effect of these is debility and 
weakness of the stomach, following from over-excite- 
ment. 

An impoetant Lesson. — These examples, which 
might be multiplied, should teach us the following 
highly useful lessons : 1st. That our acquired peculi- 
arities should be very closely watched, and that we 
should not be misled by an apparent necessity, into 
a continuance in the habits that have caused those 
peculiarities, when those very habits are destroying 
us. And 2d. That changes should be made under 
such circumstances, not suddenly, but gradually. 

Climate and Fat Bacon. — Climate is another 
circumstance that should influence in the relative 
amount of animal and vegetable food. It has been 
seen that animal diet is more stimulating and exciting 
than vegetable: hence, the inhabitants of tropical 
countries instinctively seek for vegetables, and their 
diet consists mostly of rice, potatoes, and the various 
fruits of the earth. But in civilized life, our tastes 
are so perverted by habit and education that these 
instinctive monitions are disregarded. These remarks 
apply more particularly to our Southern States, for 
there is no doubt that the extravagant use of fat bacon 
and pork is a most fruitful source of disease in our 
warm climate. These are the staple articles of food 
for men, women, children, and " niggers" — for tho 
active and sedentary, the delicate and the robust ; and 



118 OF DIET. 

when it is remembered that this is a positive violation 
of the laws that govern our being, and that all swine 
flesh is more heavy and indigestible than any other, 
we cannot be surprised at the extensive prevalence of 
fevers, "liver complaints," dyspepsias, "bowel com- 
plaints," blotches, tetters, salt rheums, and various 
other disagreeable and dangerous skin diseases, sore 
eyes, &c. 

Elementary Nature op Foods. — " Minerals." — 
Of the various chemical elements considered essential 
ingredients of our bodies, many are minerals, as iron, 
sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, &c, &c. And 
as these elements are found in greater or less quantity 
in the different articles of food, as well as in our 
drinks, we have another conclusive evidence that 
" mineral medicines" are not necessarily injurious to 
the human system. We are free to admit that this 
class of remedies (and the same might be said of all 
others) has been greatly abused, but their occasional 
and judicious use is in strict accordance with the 
teachings of infallible Nature ; sustained by the incon- 
trovertible evidence of accumulated experience, what- 
ever would-be reformers may say to the contrary. 

Variety and Bulk necessary. — Dieting. — It is 
worthy of remark that no one of what are called 
elementary principles of food, such as gum, sugar, fat, 
starch, &c, will sustain life for any great while. And 
though our errors generally consist in too great 
variety, the above fact should be borne in mind ; for 
want of sufficient variety is doubtless a source of 
disease in some cases, and especially in delicate per- 
sons who are "dieting" themselves. With many 



NCJTRITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 119 

people " dieting" means starvation, or living for weeks 
and months on a single article of food. This is all 
wrong : dieting, strictly and properly, is to adapt the 
food in quantity, quality, and variety, to the wants 
of the system, under the particular circumstances of 
each case : and though the allowance is generally 
shortened in this day of over-eating, dieting does not 
necessarily include the idea of broths made of diluted 
nothings, administered in homoeopathic doses. Be- 
sides variety in our food, bulk is necessary, in order 
to expand the stomach and bowels, to prevent undue 
contraction, and to excite those muscular movements 
that are necessary to digestion, and to the expulsion 
of the contents of the bowels. We will recur to this 
subject again. 

Nutritiveness and Digestibility of Foods. 

Difference between the two. — These things are 
liable to be confounded, but they are entirely dis- 
tinct. A substance may be very nutritive, and yet 
very difficult of digestion, and on the other hand it 
may be easy of digestion, and yet may afford but little 
nourishment. The nutritiveness of an article of food 
is measured by the amount of material it may furnish 
for building up the body. The digestibility of food is 
determined by the facility with which it is dissolved 
and changed by the stomach, &c. 

Firmness and Density necessary to Digestion. 
— We have just seen that a certain bulkiness is neces- 
sary to digestion : a certain degree of firmness and 
density are equally important. If our food be too 
dense and close in its texture, the process of digestion 



120 NCTRITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 

will be retarded ; and the same difficulty will occur 
if our food be too soft and fluid. In the first case, the 
action of the gastric juice will be resisted ; and in the 
second, the stomach cannot grasp the food, and turn 
it about sufficiently. This will teach us, that fluids 
and slops are not always best for weak stomachs ; a 
fact that many have verified by personal experience. 
Animal Foods, Milk, Butter, Cheese. — Of ani- 
mal foods, milk, the fluid furnished by nature for our 
nourishment in early life, merits the first attention. 
Milk consists of cream, curd, and whey. The cream is 
a compound consisting principally of butter and cheese. 
When milk sours it separates into whey and curd. 
This whey contains various "minerals," as potash, 
lime, and iron. And thus do we drink in these 
"poisons" with our mothers' milk. It will be seen 
from this brief notice of the composition of milk, that 
it is a highly compound nourishment. In this we 
find an illustration of the truth, that no single ele- 
ment of food will support life ; for in milk is provided 
water to distend the stomach, dilute, wash out, 
nourish, &c, butter and oil for heat, and lime and 
other minerals for making the bones solid, and for 
other purposes. Albumen, one of the nutritive 
elements of milk, rises to the surface in the form of a 
thin scum on boiling : this may be skimmed off, and 
the milk may thus be made more digestible for weak 
stomachs, but at the same time it will be less nourish- 
ing. Therefore milk should not be boiled and 
skimmed, where a very nourishing diet is required. 
Milk, without any preparation, is very digestible and 
easily converted into our bodies ; and it does not cause 



NUTKITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 121 

that heat and excitement that generally arise from 
the use of other kinds of animal food. Being 
composed largely of water, this is readily absorbed 
by the stomach, and as the solid portions only are 
digested, a large quantity of milk really imposes less 
labor on the stomach, than an equal quantity of any 
other food. Yery soon after milk is swallowed it is 
curdled by the action of the stomach, and as the act 
of vomiting is very easy in children, any excess of 
curd that might oppress the stomach is readily thrown 
off. Milk varies somewhat in different animals ; that 
of the goat and ass, approaching human milk more 
nearly than the milk of any other animal. Butter 
and cheese, though they are generally easily managed 
by the stomach, as they exist in combination with 
milk, are yet rather hard of digestion when in a 
separate state. Old cheese is highly indigestible, and 
should never be eaten by any one. Butter is not so 
objectionable, but its oily nature makes it a bad thing 
for weak stomachs, all oils being digested with great 
difficulty. 

Vomiting in Childeen. — Before dismissing the 
subject of milk, it may be well to add that the vomit- 
ing of curd, so common in children, is no evidence of 
disease, but rather an evidence of health : curdling of 

/ 7 O 

the milk being the natural effect of the gastric juice. 
But while the vomiting of curd is no symptom of 
actual disease, it is an evidence of injurious over- 
loading of the stomach, which is quite a common 
error ; and did not Nature relieve herself by vomiting, 
many more children would be sacrificed than there 
are. 

11 



122 XUTKITIVEXESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 

Eggs — Fish — Bieds. — Next to milk in nutritive- 
ness and digestibility may be placed eggs. But 
perhaps nothing is more influenced by the mode of 
cooking. Soft-boiled eggs are digestible, but hard 
eggs are almost as difficult for the stomach to manage 
as sole-leather ; and no one who has any compassion 
on this useful organ will impose on it the task of 
digesting a hard egg. Fish is considered to be less 
nutritive than mutton or beef, but it is sufficiently so, 
while it is not difficult of digestion, and is destitute 
of the stimulating effects of other kinds of animal 
food. These properties render fish a highly valuable 
article of diet in many cases. Of the different kinds 
of fishes, those that are whitest and least oily are the 
most wholesome and digestible. Among the numerous 
species of the fish tribe, we can only mention the 
white shad, which runs up our waters every spring. 
They are wholesome in moderation, and one of the 
greatest luxuries that we of the South enjoy. Shell- 
fish are generally highly indigestible. Oysters are 
tolerably nutritious, and not very difficult of digestion 
when eaten raw, but cooking renders them less diges- 
tible. Oysters are generally gulped down whole, with 
pepper and other stimulants ; all of which is highly 
objectionable. Many of the shell-fish tribe are poison- 
ous at certain times, and it has been supposed that 
this is the case with oysters, which are certainly the 
best of their family. The flesh of birds differs great- 
ly as to nutritiveness and digestibility. According to 
Dr. Paris, " the whiter meat of domesticated birds, as 
the wings and breasts of chickens, contains less nutri- 
ment, and is less digestible than that which is furnished 



NUTRITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 123 

by wild birds ; as the partridge, &c. ; but the former 
is, at the same time, less stimulant and beating than 
tbe latter." 

Fat Hogs and Disease. — A Prize Monster. — 
We have already alluded to tbe indigestibility and 
tbe stimulating qualities of swine flesb, and we bave 
mentioned a few of tbe diseases tbat arise from its 
excessive use. Let us now see wbat are tbe effects of 
tbe fattening process on tbe bog bimself. It is a com- 
mon notion among tbe people, tbat fat is tbe most 
nutritious of all tbings ; but so far is tbis from being 
true, tbat tbe latest and most reliable cbemical re- 
searches go to prove tbat it is exclusively a beat- 
producing, and not a muscle-producing agent; tbat 
it affords fuel to burn, &c. Tbe practice of eating 
large quantities of fat meat, then, to increase the 
strength, is a great error. And it should be remem- 
bered that excessive fatness is a disease both in men and 
women, and. in the lower animals ; and consequently 
tbat bogs or any other animals that are confined in a 
close pen, deprived of exercise, and gorged with more 
food than the natural wants of the system demand, 
are unhealthy in proportion to their fatness — are the 
less suitable to furnish wholesome human food, the 
fatter they are. That animal is most suitable for food 
which is neither very fat nor very lean — which is in 
a healthy, vigorous, natural condition. Tbis is a pro- 
position in accordance both with science and common 
sense. Yet many will think that we are crazy, when 
we say that stall-fed and pen-fed specimens of bloated 
artificial fatness are diseased! And yet tbis is the 
principal food of Christendom ! Look at that prize- 



124 NUTRITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 

-monster on which epicures feast their greedy eyes as 
he is driven through the streets for exhibition ! His 
heart is enormously enlarged, "pallid, soft, and greasy," 
its substance containing fat instead of muscle, on which 
its value as food depends : his liver is heavy and dark 
purple — lungs flabby, and containing little tubercles 
filled with worms ; his bowels are filled with a different 
species of the same parasite ; and his whole body is in 
a state of "fatty degeneration."* And is this fit food 
for refined, intelligent, and civilized people ? — is it fit 
for cannibals and savages? And is not the very 
thought of it enough to make a lady shudder ? 

Filthy Habits of the Hog. — Besides the diseased 
condition of hogs, which they share in common 
with other pen-fed animals, their flesh must be more 
or less contaminated from the enormous amount of 
filth taken into their carcasses. Everybody knows 
that a hog will eat anything — that he feeds alike on 
decayed animal and vegetable matters, excrements, and 
offals — that all things (onions perhaps excepted) how- 
ever disgusting and offensive, are indiscriminately 
devoured by him. It has already been seen that fluids 
and substances in a state of perfect solution enter 
directly into the blood through the walls of the 
stomach, without undergoing the process of digestion ; 
and consequently that an immense amount of abomi- 
nable filth must thus enter the circulation of a hog, 
mingling with all. the fluids and corrupting all the 
solids of the body. Can any one believe for a moment 

* For an excellent article on this subject, see Dixon's Scalpel, July 1858. 
" Our Meat Markets," &c, contains some startling truths in Dr. Dixon's 
peculiar style, from whom the above prize sketch is taken. 



NUTEITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 125 

that such foul ingredients as these can circulate 
through the human body without irritation and injury ? 
But then it may be replied that the human system is 
provided with outlets for all these things ; that the 
skin, kidneys, &c, will throw them off. This may be 
true to some extent — nature may long struggle to 
accomplish the excessive and unnatural labor imposed 
upon her, but there are limits to her powers : presently, 
the organs will become weary of their endless task ; 
they will perform their functions only partially and 
imperfectly ; and thus the impurities will be retained, 
clogging up the pores, corrupting the whole body, 
and generating disease in a thousand forms. In view, 
then, of these incontrovertible facts, every person of 
refined taste, and every one who values health and 
beauty, should abstain from fresh hog-meat, at least. 
We say fresh hog-meat, because the impurities arising 
from filth are perhaps destroyed and dissipated by the 
baconing process. Finally we dismiss his hogship, for 
the present, by saying, that of all abominable articles 
of diet, fresh pork is the most abominable. It is full 
of impurities, it is often partly spoiled, and it is highly 
stimulating, heavy, and indigestible. In proof of this 
it is only necessary to point to the numerous cases of 
bowel diseases, summer complaints, &c, that are 
manifestly due to eating fresh pork. 

Beef, Mutton, &c. — Beef, mutton, and most of 
the vegetable-eating tribe, are healthy for food when 
not monstrously fat. But in the use of all kinds of 
animal food, all the relative circumstances as to exer- 
cise, habits of life, climate, &c, should never be for- 
gotten ; and we repeat the opinion that persons who 
11* 



126 NUTRITIVENESS AND DIGESTIBILITY. 

do not lead an active life, had better touch all animal 
food very lightly ; and that most people who do not 
exercise a good deal would be better off if they would 
abstain entirely. And after what has been said, 
surely every one, under all circumstances, except in 
a state of actual starvation, will religiously avoid stall- 
fed, stabled, pen-fed, over -fattened, and diseased ani- 
mals: and above all — filthy, fresh, hog -meat. 

Manner of Slaughtering Animals. — Spoiled 
Meat. — In killing animals for food, humanity would 
plead for the least painful mode, and physiology gives 
its sanction to those promptings so dear to the tender 
heart of gentle woman. Bleeding an animal to death 
is perhaps as little painful as any mode of taking life, 
and this mode has the advantage of removing, with the 
blood, many of the accidental impurities that this fluid 
may contain. But it is evident that all cannot be 
removed in this way, unless all the blood could be 
taken away ; and even then, in very filthy animals, 
the flesh itself might be contaminated. The great 
advantage of removing the blood, as far as possible, 
from flesh, is that the latter is rendered less liable to 
" spoil" — that it will " keep" better ; and will therefore 
be more wholesome. For whatever epicures (!) and 
foul-mouth gormandizers may say about the palatable- 
ness and digestibility of half-decayed animal food, it 
is certain that such stuff cannot be fit for decent people 
to eat ; and if any one should succeed in acquiring a 
taste that relishes anything so unnatural and disgust- 
ing, a regard for health, if not for decency, should be 
sufficient to restrain an appetite so perverse and 
offensive. 



COOKING MEATS. 127 

Cooking Meats. 

The best Mode. — All meat should be cooked 
done, but not more ; meat moderately cooked is pre- 
ferable to that which is over-done. Broiling is the 
best of all modes of cooking meats of all kinds. 
Boiled meat is generally digestible, but it loses much 
of its nutritiveness by the solvent action of the water. 
But as one of the elements partially abstracted by the 
water is fat, which is so difficult of digestion, and of 
which we generally take such an excessive quantity 
in this meat-eating country, we lose nothing, in this 
way, by boiling. 

The worst Mode. — Frying in the South. — ■ 
Frying, in cookery, occupies the place of hog- meat in 
dietetics : it is the most abominable of all modes ; and 
perhaps this is the reason why it is most common; 
for it does seem that our tastes have become so per- 
verted that we are most likely to fall on the very 
things most injurious to health. In the Southern 
States, frying is oftener resorted to than any other 
mode of cooking. If Southerners cannot manage to 
take in a sufficient quantity of grease, in the form of 
fat bacon and pork, to sustain them, and keep up the 
heat in their rigorous climate, they are sure to supply 
any deficiency by saturating their peas, beans, pota- 
toes, bread, and everything else, in that most desirable 
of all things — hogh-lard. Hence, we have fried vege- 
tables of all kinds, fried meats almost invariably, fried 
bread and hominy not unfrequently, and fried every- 
thing, so long as the ample supply of essence of hog 
holds out. Why, in the South, hog's-lard is the oil 



128 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

that greases the wheels of life and keeps them in 
motion ; and people would no more think of doing 
without it, than they would of doing without coffee, 
or tobacco, or any other indispensable. 

Boasting — Baking. — Eoasting is not so good as 
boiling meat ; for though more nutriment is retained, 
the meat is less digestible. Baking, in which the 
greater part of the oil is retained, renders meat difficult 
of digestion, but from the retention of the various 
elements it is highly nutritious. 

Vegetable Food. 

Wheat. — Light-Bread. — The vegetable kingdom 
furnishes an almost endless variety of highly nutri- 
tious and wholesome aliments. First on the list stand 
the farinaceous grains — wheat, corn, rye, &c, &c. 

Wheat contains starch, albumen, gluten, sugar, oil, 
water, a husky matter covering the grain, and several 
less important elements. It will be seen from this 
enumeration that it must be highly nutritious, and as 
all the grains belonging to this family possess similar 
properties, bread may well be called the "staff of life." 

Gluten is a tenacious substance, most abundant in 
wheat, and it is this that causes bread to rise. The 
gluten acts by entangling the carbonic acid gas gener- 
ated by fermentation; and a due proportion of this 
gluten is indispensable in making light-bread : if there 
is not enough to prevent the escape of the gas the 
bread will not rise. 

How Acids and Alkalis act. — Heretofore, yeast 
has been used in making light-bread, but of late years 
this has been supplanted, to a considerable extent, by 



VEGETABLE FOOD. 129 

a combination of acids and alkalis, as bicarbonate of 
soda and cream of tartar, soda and vinegar, soda and 
bntter-milk, soda and hydrochloric acid, or "spirit of 
salt." The principle on which these things act is 
the same, but the product is different in each case. 
In each of these combinations, carbonic acid gas is 
disengaged as in the yeast fermentation ; but at the 
same time, a new compound is formed. When bicar- 
bonate of soda and cream of tartar are united, the 
acid in the cream of tartar combines with the soda, 
setting carbonic acid gas free, and forming a tartrate 
of potash and soda; or a purgative salt commonly 
known as " Rochelle Salts," one of the ingredients of 
Seidlitz powders. When soda and vinegar are united, 
an acetate of soda is formed : soda and buttermilk 
form a lactate ; and the combination of hydrochloric 
acid and soda results in the formation of table salt. 
These chemical details are given because the above 
acids and alkalis are extensively used, and ignorance 
of the simple principle on which they act, spoils a 
great quantity of bread. It is not unfrequently the 
case that soda or saleratus is used without any acid, 
and the consequence is, the bread does not rise well, 
and is yellow, with a" very disagreeable smell like lye. 
Ake they wholesome ? — The salts formed by the 
chemical changes mentioned, may all be properly 
placed in the list of medicines, unless the "common 
salt" be an exception. And though these medicines 
are of the most mild and innocent class, it is very 
doubtful whether they can be taken daily, even in 
small quantity, without more or less disturbance of 
the system. They act on the kidneys or bowels, or 

I 



130 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

both, and though the effect may be slight, it is artifi- 
cial, unnatural, and it is highly probable that its long 
continuance would result in disease of those organs. 
These are the difficulties that present themselves when 
everything is duly proportioned, and a neutral salt, 
with no excess either of acid or alkali, is formed. 
But when the soda is in excess, as is often the case, it 
accumulates in the system, and is an undoubted source 
of disease. Of the different compounds mentioned 
above, the least objectionable are hydrochloric acid 
and soda, and buttermilk and soda. If the hydro- 
chloric acid and soda be united in such proportions as 
exactly to neutralize each other, " common salt" will 
be the result, which is certainly a healthful article, in 
moderation. But two great difficulties present them- 
selves in using these articles : — Hydrochloric acid is a 
corrosive and dangerous poison, when not neutralized 
by an alkali. It becomes, then, a serious question 
whether so active an agent should be intrusted to an 
ignorant cook. But, admitting that this danger may 
be avoided by proper care, another, no less formidable, 
arises : in the preparation of the acid itself — in the 
process of manufacture, it is liable to become impreg- 
nated with hurtful and even poisonous ingredients, 
that no care could remove or guard against. Butter- 
milk and soda are not liable to these objections, but 
as the strength of the acid is very variable, it is diffi- 
cult, and often impossible, so to proportion it as to 
neutralize the soda exactly. In view of all these 
facts, it is highly probable that the modern innova- 
tions in light-bread making have sacrificed health to 
convenience. 



vegetable food. 131 

Feemented Beead. — Unleavened Beead most 
wholesome. — Fermented or yeast bread is doubtless 
the most wholesome of the light-breads ; but then the 
fermenting process is slow and uncertain, and it 
requires a tact and management that comparatively 
few cooks possess ; for if the fermentation is stopped 
too soon, the bread is heavy and unfit to eat ; and if 
it is too long continued, some of the most nutritious 
elements are destroyed, and the bread becomes sour 
from the generation of acetic acid, or vinegar. This 
is often the case with bakers' bread, which, though 
very white and light, is the most inferior of all flour 
bread. This bread is also often adulterated with alum, 
and other bleaching preparations, intended to whiten 
poor flour. The fact is, unleavened bread is more 
wholesome than any kind of fermented or raised 
bread, and we would therefore advise all who value 
health, and who would avoid the trouble, inconveni- 
ence, and dangers of light-bread making, to return to 
the primitive simplicity of nature, and to use unbolted, 
unraised, and unfermented bread. 

Fine Floue. — Use of Wheat Husks. — Wheat in 
its natural state before it passes through the bolting 
cloth, consists largely of a husky substance enclosing 
the grain ; and this, by its mechanical action or fric- 
tion against the inside of the bowels, is the very best 
of all bowel regulators, or "peristaltic persuaders." 

Dr. Warren, of Boston, after an experience of forty 
years, if we mistake not, unhesitatingly pronounced 
cracked wheat to be the safest and best of all reme- 
dies for habitual constipation, or torpid bowels. The 
same thing is true to a considerable extent of unbolted 



132 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

flour, as is proved by the concurrent testimony of a 
great many physicians of ample experience. Fine 
flour is highly constipating to the bowels, and should 
not be used as food, except in cases of irritation of 
the bowels, where it may be desirable to check exces- 
sive discharges. There can be no doubt that the 
introduction of Dutch bolting-cloths was one of the 
greatest curses ever inflicted on the civilized world. 

Eeceipt foe making Bread. — We trust that what 
has been said will induce some, at least, of our read- 
ers to abandon the use of fine flour ; but for those 
who will persist in using it, we give a recipe from a 
little work lately issued by William Hunt, of Boston. 
We have never tried the receipt, but it is highly 
recommended; and we are certain that fine flour 
could not possibly be prepared in a more wholesome 
manner. 

"Mix good fine flour with pure cold water, and 
make a dough that can be rolled out and cut into 
strips, which must again be rolled into a round form, 
the size of the thumb or finger, and cut into pieces, 
three or four inches long ; bake in a hot oven, ten or 
fifteen minutes; brown them nicely and serve fresh." 
This bread is no doubt "pure and sweet;" and if it 
were made of unbolted flour, we could not possibly 
see any objection to it, unless it might be rather hard 
and tough, for the teeth of "modern society." 

Hot and Cold Bread. — Decayed Teeth. — Cold 
bread is best as a general rule, but it sometimes 
becomes close and clammy when cold. There can be 
no doubt that the common practice of eating hot 
bread, and swallowing hot drinks, is injurious to the 



VEGETABLE FOOD. 133 

stomach, and destructive to the teeth. There must 
be something radically wrong in our habits, to cause 
our teeth to decay so early ; for certainly it was in- 
tended that these beautiful and useful instruments 
should last as long as other parts of the body. We 
know of no cause more likely to produce decayed 
teeth, than the expansive action of heat on the enamel. 
Ladies who would preserve health and beauty, and 
who would escape the horrors of tooth-ache, would 
do well to remember this. Another cause of decayed 
teeth is general ill health and constitutional debility ; 
but perhaps the most common of all direct causes, is to 
be found in the corrosive action of drugs, which are 
consumed to such an enormous extent in this country. 
In sickness the teeth should be particularly attended 
to : the mouth should be well washed, after swallow- 
ing medicine of any kind, and the teeth and mouth 
both should be washed at least once a day, whether 
medicine be taken or not. This will remove the acrid 
secretions that gather about the mouth and teeth in 
sickness, and will be protective to the teeth, and 
pleasant to the patient. 

Cakes. — Dumplings. — Cakes made of butter, eggs, 
&c, are generally unwholesome. Ginger -cake, when 
made with very little ginger, is more wholesome than 
most of its class. Dumplings, made of fine flour 
rolled and cut, are a great dish at the South. They 
are served up with stewed chicken, chicken and meat 
pies, &c, &c. As to digestibility, they might be 
classed with raw hide, and they are enough to ruin 
any stomach. 

Corn Bread. — Hominy. — Dyspepsia, &c. — Indian 
12 



134 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

corn is used more extensively than wheat even. It is 
far preferable to fine flour, and is the most nutritious 
and healthful of all our "bread-stuffs." It is fre- 
quently injured by grinding too fine : the meal should 
be moderately coarse and round. Such meal as this, 
mixed up with cold water, either with or without salt, 
makes a delicious bread which is good either warm 
or cold. Corn meal, being deficient in gluten, will not 
rise. One of the best and most wholesome forms of 
corn bread is the "ash-cake" a common dish with 
Southern negroes. It is prepared simply by wetting 
up the meal with cold water ; it is then put down on 
the hot hearth, and covered immediately with hot 
ashes. When taken out of the ashes, it is washed in 
cold water ; and, whatever the fastidious may think 
of it, there never was a better bread in every respect 
than this plain ash-cake. Many times, in our boyish 
days, have we left the fine flour dainties of the " white 
folks" to beg a piece of ash-cake from the "niggers." 
Hominy, large and small, is a most excellent prepara- 
tion of Indian corn. Small hominy or "grits" is made 
by coarsely grinding the corn. Large or ley hominy, 
when properly prepared, is a most palatable and 
wholesome dish. If all the ley is not washed off, it is 
one of the very best diets in cases of dyspepsia 
attended with heart-burn or sour stomach. The only 
drawback to the extensive use of this most nutritious, 
healthful, and economical food, is the trouble of pre- 
paring it, and its liability to sour in warm weather. 
Some excellent and wholesome puddings are made of 
corn meal, but we cannot stop to describe them. Corn 
meal mush is a superior article for delicate persons 



VEGETABLE FOOD. 135 

and convalescents. It is generally taken with milk, 
and should be put into the milk quite hot. 

Eice — Best Mode of Cooking. — In Bowel Af- 
fections. — Next to wheat and corn, rice is the most 
extensively used and wholesome article of its class. 
It is very nutritious, mild, and unstimulating ; but in 
consequence of the absence of any considerable quan- 
tity of husks, it is too concentrated and " binding," 
unless other coarser food be mixed with it. But this 
very thing makes it the most useful of all articles of 
diet in cases of irritation and "looseness" of the 
bowels. Indeed, there are few of the simpler cases of 
diarrhoea that will not yield to rest, a flannel bandage 
around the belly, and a rice diet. Eemember this 
when you or your children get sick. Boiling, com- 
bined with steaming, is the best of all modes of cook- 
ing rice. It should be boiled in water with a little 
salt in it ; and when it is nearly done, it should be 
allowed to stand and steam in a covered vessel, until 
the grains are sufficiently dry to stand somewhat 
apart. It may also be boiled with milk, but as a 
general rule, the " Carolina mode" first given is best. 

Peas — Beans — Boots — "Bacon and Collakds." 
— Peas, beans, and oily nuts resemble the "bread- 
stuffs" in their composition : they are nutritive, but 
more difficult of digestion than the grains, on account 
of the greater quantity of oil they contain. Among 
the esculent roots, the potato merits the first attention. 
It is highly nutritious, and generally digestible ; but, 
like other articles of this class, it is apt to produce 
flatulence ; this, however, is not likely to prove serious, 
except in persons of weak digestive organs. Potatoes 



136 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

are considered to be most wholesome when boiled, but 
baking is a very good mode of cooking them ; and 
perhaps there is none better than roasting in the ashes. 
Turnips, parsnips, beets, &c, are wholesome, with the 
exception above mentioned ; and beets and carrots 
are quite nourishing, on account of the large quantity 
of sugar they contain. Radishes may be placed in 
this class, but should never be eaten either as food or 
condiment : they are too acrid and irritating for any 
stomach not lined with copper ; and we agree fully 
with Mr. Peabody, a distinguished Southern horticul- 
tural writer, that radishes should always be sown " in 
the fire." Among the esculent herbs, cabbage and 
collards are staple articles of diet with many people, 
particularly at the South. This kind of " greens" is 
moderately nutritious, and, when well boiled, healthy ; 
but the immense amount of grease consumed with the 
greens, can but render them very indigestible. And 
unless some better mode of cooking than boiling with 
fat bacon can be invented, no one except the stoutest 
laborers should make " greens" an every-day diet. 
And yet many delicate and sedentary women in the 
Southern and Western States live almost exclusively 
on fat bacon and collards ! Lettuce should be placed 
among the medicines, on account of its narcotic pro- 
perties. Cucumbers consist mostly of water, and are 
of little value as nutriments ; yet for healthy stomachs 
we see nothing very objectionable about them. The 
best mode of cooking the above esculents is boiling, 
as this tends to prevent the flatulency they are likely 
to occasion. As a general rule, the less grease with 
them the better, and especially hog-grease. 



VEGETABLE FOOD. 137 

Feuits.— How eaten.— The fruit kingdom affords 
an almost endless supply of delicious and wholesome 
food. But as articles of this class are generally taken, 
they may, more properly, be considered as dangerous 
luxuries, than as healthful food — as a curse rather 
than a blessing. Dr. Paris says : " Were we to form 
our opinion of their value, from their abuse, we 
should certainly be rather disposed to class them 
under the head of poisons than of aliments." The 
great error in the use of fruits, consists in making 
them a dessert — in crowding the stomach with them, 
when it is already full; and in eating them at all 
times, between meals, when there is no natural 
demand or desire for them. Fruits, when taken along 
with our food, as food, and in moderation, are highly 
conducive to health, and as the writer just quoted 
appropriately remarks, they " appear to be providen- 
tially sent at a season, when the body requires that 
cooling and antiseptic aliment, which they are so 
well calculated to afford." 

Stone Fruits. — Apples, &c. — Of the stone fruits, 
the peach is most delicious and digestible. Indeed, 
we know of nothing more desirable or healthful, 
among all the gifts of God, than good, fresh, ripe 
peaches. They should form part of either meal, or 
be eaten, in moderation, when the stomach is empty. 
The same remarks apply equally to apricots. Plums 
are less digestible than peaches, on account of their 
pulp ; and all pulpy stone fruits are more or less 
indigestible, and prone to ferment in the stomach. 
The apple is one of the best of fruits. Baked 
apples will generally agree with the most delicate 
12* 



138 VEGETABLE FOOD. 

stomachs, and are excellent in sickness. Green or 
half-ripe apples stewed and sweetened, are pleasant to 
the taste, nourishing, cooling, and loosening. Pears 
are also good. Oranges are very acceptable to most 
stomachs, but the skin covering the pulp should be 
rejected; and the same may be said of all skinned 
fruits. 

Strawberries and Ice-Cream. — Strawberries have 
become quite the rage, within the last few years, 
because they are really good, and because some 
Southern horticulturists (among whom Mr. Charles 
A. Peabody, of Columbus, Gra., stands prominent) 
have astonished all Yankeedom, by the size and 
lusciousness of this product of their gardens. We 
could wish them all success in furnishing an abundant 
supply of this delicious and wholesome fruit, if they 
could induce their patrons to dispense with the ice- 
cream accompaniments. We have already spoken of 
ice drinks. Everything of the kind is hazardous in 
warm weather. Muscadines belong to the class of 
small seeded fruits, and are very unwholesome. Most 
of this class have a loosening effect on the bowels, by 
means of the seeds, which act like the husks of wheat ; 
and therefore they are highly useful in cases of con- 
stipation. 

Melons. — Action on Kidneys. — The earth pro- 
duces nothing more delicious and wholesome, than 
our water-melons. We have not unfrequently allowed 
them to fever patients, not only without injury, but 
apparently with advantage. They act powerfully on 
the kidneys, and are certainly the most agreeable, if 
not the best of all kidney-exciters. Dr. Hall says : 



CONDIMENTS. 139 

(Jour. Health) — "as to water-melons, they are the 
only things we know which can be eaten with 
impunity until we cannot swallow any more." This 
corresponds with our observation, yet this should not 
be considered a sufficient license for extravagant and 
unnatural indulgence. Be temperate in all things. 

EULES GENERAL. — HOW TO MANAGE THE STOMACH. 

— In concluding these remarks on the nutritiveness 
and digestibility of some of the leading articles of 
food, it is proper to add that what has been said must 
be taken generally — that there are many individual 
exceptions, and that what is easily digested as a 
general thing, may act like poison to some persons 
under certain peculiar conditions. But in selecting 
our diet, it should never be forgotten that our artifi- 
cial tastes and conditions are not always a safe guide, 
and that the very thing at which the stomach at first 
rebels, is sometimes best for us. In this case the diffi- 
culty is in the morbid condition ol the stomach, and not 
in the food, and the rebellious organ should be coaxed 
into a gradual change of its bad habits. Prudence 
and perseverance are here necessary : when a change 
is required it should be made by degrees, until the 
misguided stomach learns what is best for it. 

Condiments. 
What they are. — Condiments or " seasonings" are 
those articles that possess no nutritious properties ; 
but in combination with our food, they heighten its 
flavor, and in some cases promote its digestibility and 
correct some of its deleterious properties. But while 
this is true, it is very doubtful whether a healthy sto- 



140 CONDIMENTS. 

mach, supplied with the proper kind and quantity of 
food, stands much in need of condiments to assist it 
in any way whatever. And it is certain that the 
extensive use of articles of this class in modern cook- 
ery, is an evil of enormous magnitude. 

Salt — How it acts. — Salt Bacon. — Common salt 
is the most extensively used and the most wholesome 
of all condiments. It acts as a gentle stimulant and 
antiseptic, and in moderation is doubtless conducive 
to health ; but we cannot agree with those writers who 
contend that a " free use of salt" is absolutely neces- 
sary to animal existence. And it is still harder for 
us to believe that our artificial craving for highly 
salted food is an evidence of the natural wants of the 
animal economy. Salt acts as an anthelmintic or 
worm-destroyer, but no one would be willing to pickle 
the body and dry up its fluids to kill worms. Allusion 
has already been made to the injurious effects of fat 
bacon, and there can be no doubt that lean bacon, 
combined with an excess of salt, is almost, if not quite, 
as prejudicial to health. Salt prevents decomposition, 
or "saves meat" by abstracting the blood, and by 
combining with the animal fibre or muscle. And just 
in proportion to this abstraction of the fluids, and 
combination with the muscular fibre, does the salt 
render meat less nutritious and digestible. Dr. Dun- 
glison says such " a combination of flesh and salt is 
very indigestible, and unfit for the dyspeptic." Now, 
if a small quantity will generally disagree with a 
dyspeptic, is it not highly probable that the extrava- 
gant amount consumed by many people (especially in 
the South and West) will finally wear out the strongest 



CONDIMENTS. 141 

stomach ? Our opinion is that this compound of salt 
and dried flesh should be used very sparingly by all, 
and especially by delicate women. 

Vinegar and Aromatics, &c, — Vinegar prevents 
the fermentation of certain substances, and particularly 
of vegetables, thus preventing flatulence. In small 
quantities, it is grateful and wholesome ; but it should 
be used cautiously, like everything else of its class. 
The aromatic condiments are very numerous. They 
comprise the different kinds of peppers, cinnamon, 
nutmeg, cloves, ginger, thyme, sage, garlic, &c, &c. 
All these, and many more, such as pickles and dried 
salt herrings, enter largely into the food of civilized 
life ; and they are all, more or less, injurious. They 
all stimulate the stomach unduly, create an unnatural 
appetite, which leads to excessive indulgence, and 
finally palsy the taste and destroy the tone of the 
stomach. Many of them are acrid irritants, suffi- 
ciently so to inflame the stomach and cause immediate 
death, did not Nature protect herself by pouring out 
an abundant mucous secretion to blunt the acrimony 
of these offensive and unnatural invaders of the vital 
domain. All the oily condiments are difficult of diges- 
tion ; and melted butter, in the form of sauce to dump- 
lings, pastries, and other indigestible dishes, is abso- 
lutely ruinous to any stomach. 

A Rule for the Condiments. — The best Sauce. 
— Finally, we conclude by remarking that the un- 
natural and injurious indulgence in condiments, and 
especially the acrids, as mustard, pepper, &c, should 
be abandoned by all who value health and long life. 
Salt and vinegar, in small quantities, are admissible ; 



142 CONDIMENTS. 

but the safest and best general rule, in reference to 
the whole class of condiments, may be thus expressed — 
the less, the better. And this rule should be regarded 
in spite of the cravings of an artificial taste, or the 
rebellious movings of a miseducated stomach. Firm- 
ness and perseverance will overcome these temporary 
difficulties ; and then will we find that our food is 
sweet and palatable without any stimulating and 
health-destroying seasonings — then will our taste be 
delicate and discriminating — and then will we be pre- 
pared to relish that most pleasant and healthful of all 
sauces — a real natural appetite. 

Times of Eating. — All the acts of our bodies, 
voluntary and involuntary, are greatly under the in- 
fluence of habit. Hence it is desirable to have certain 
regular hours for eating, so that the stomach may be 
aided in its important duties, both by the stimulus of 
the food, and the periodical habit. The proper time 
for eating is when the previous meal has passed 
through all the stages of digestion, and entered into 
the circulation ; and when, after an interval of rest, 
the wants of the system are indicated by a natural 
desire for food. If our habits are right, this will be 
a safe and unerring guide, and healthy people should 
never eat unless they have this natural prompting. 
A natural appetite will, as a general rule, recur about 
every six hours ; but it is much influenced by the 
nature of our diet, the state of the mind, the amount 
of exercise, &c. Three meals a day, then, at intervals 
of six hours, may be taken as a general rule ; and if 
the habits are as they should be, the machinery of life 
will work harmoniously by this rule. But should the 



CONDIMENTS. 143 

appetite fail, wait for it; for there is always more 
danger of making the intervals between the meals too 
short than too long. 

Beeakfast and Fluids. — A bad Breath. — Break- 
fast may be a substantial repast ; and more fluids are 
allowable at this meal, on account of the waste sus- 
tained by perspiration during the night. Dr. Paris 
very truly remarks, that there is "a certain acrimony 
and rankness in all our secretions at that time ; the 
breath has frequently a peculiar taint in the morning, 
which is not perceptible at subsequent periods of the 
day." This indicates the necessity for some bland 
diluting drink; and hot-water tea or chocolate will 
answer every purpose, without the evils and dangers 
attendant on the use of " store tea" and coffee. 

Drinking early in the Morning. — But we think 
there is a still better way ; and that is, to blunt the 
acrid secretions, remove the taint, and supply the 
waste, by a draught of pure, cold water, not at break- 
fast, but on first rising out of bed in the morning. 
Hydropathic drenchings have already been noticed in 
condemnation, but these excesses are no argument 
against the judicious and moderate use of water early 
in the morning. There are some with whom cold 
drinks, even in moderation, would not agree so well : 
this is particularly the case with those of feeble vital 
powers, in whom the generation of animal heat is 
deficient. 

Dinner. — This meal should be taken about the 
middle of the day, and may be solid and substantial ; 
but, as one of our friends expressed it, this meal is 



144 QUANTITY OF FOOD. 

generally too gorge-ous : a remark applicable in other 
cases, as we shall see presently. 

Heavy Suppers. — Supper should be taken about 
dark, and, when the nights are short, about sun- down, 
This will allow time for the digestion of the repast, 
before retiring to rest. The stomach should have rest 
at night, as well as the other parts of the body : it is 
an outrageous imposition on this organ, to put it to 
hard work just before we go to bed. Heavy suppers 
distend the stomach, impede respiration, oppress the 
brain, cause disturbed sleep, horrid dreams, night- 
mare, and in many instances sudden death. There 
can be no doubt that most persons " found dead in 
bed" die of hearty suppers. If then you would enjoy 
quiet, refreshing sleep for the body, while dreams of 
peace lull the spirit, — if you would have a breath 
like the 

" Fragrant infancy of opening flowers" — 

if you would avoid disease and sudden death, shun 
heavy suppers ! This meal should consist mostly of 
toasted bread, wafers, biscuit (plain and unbolted), a 
small quantity of fresh butter, with milk or water, or 
hot-water tea, for drink. Children should be allowed 
very little, if any, fluid, for reasons that will readily 
suggest themselves. 

Quantity of Food. 

Not determined according to Gulliver. — To 

prescribe food by measure and weight, except in some 

specific cases, would be as absurd as the attempt of 

Gulliver's tailors to fit every one on abstract mathe- 



QUANTITY OF FOOD. 145 

matical principles without measurement. It is obvious 
that the quantity, as well as the quality of our food, 
should be regulated by the constitution, climate, habits 
of life, &c. But where one eats too little, there are ten 
thousand who eat excessively. 

The genus Over-Eater. — This is a very extensive 
family, as just intimated, and may be divided into 
several classes: 1st. We have the Lovers-to-eat, who 
live to eat, instead of eating to live. These are truly 
omnivorous animals, for they devour everything ani- 
mal, vegetable, and mineral : and their appetites are 
measured only by their containing capacity. With 
them the sum total of human happiness is embraced 
in the words eating and drinking. The individuals of 
this class belong mostly to the male species. There 
are not a few men who have fallen from their high 
estate to this depth of degradation ; but for refined, 
intellectual, and spiritual woman to sink into such a 
state of gross animalism, would be like hurling an 
archangel from heaven, "with, hideous ruin and com- 
bustion down to bottomless perdition." In the second 
class of the genus over-eaters we would place the 
Bolters, who overwhelm their stomachs with such 
a rapid volley of unchewed boluses, that this organ is 
so astonished and confused that it loses its natural 
instincts, and knows not when to cry " hold, enough.'' 
These bolters are quite numerous among the mascu- 
lines of America ; for of course no lady would indulge 
in a habit so unbecoming. 

The Do-nothings constitute another division of this 
extensive genus : these eat because they have nothing 
else to do ; and they would be highly useful to the 
13 K 



146 QUANTITY OF FOOD. 

world if they would use their brains as much as their 
stomachs. As it is, however, it would matter but 
little how soon they might kill themselves, if others 
were not involved in the rain and misery resulting 
from their violations of the laws of health. 

The fourth class embraces the Save-alls. These eat 
to excess simply because they cannot bear to see any- 
thing wasted ! Whatever is placed before them must 
be consumed at all hazards. They act on the princi- 
ple that actuated the old dame who swallowed a box 
of pills left over in a case of sickness, because she 
could not get her consent to waste the precious things ! 

In the fifth class, we place the Eaters-to-make-it-even. 
These have the organ of order, or something of that 
kind, well developed ; they like to see things " come 
out even;" therefore, when all the butter is gone, and 
the bread is not quite eaten, they take a little more 
butter, and then a little more bread, until, like Justice 
Monkey, who divided the cheese for the cats, they get 
more than their share, or, at any rate, more than their 
stomachs can manage. 

-Another large class includes the Accommodators. 
Lady Bountiful gives an entertainment. No pains 
have been spared, and the table groans with luxuries 
procured with great trouble and expense. It would 
be mortifying to the lady, if her guests did not do 
ample justice to her tempting viands, therefore all eat 
too much, while our accommodators rival the first 
class in their enormities : and all out of pure respect for 
the feelings of the kind hostess ! 

The seventh class comprises the Would-do-betters, 
and they are in several particulars more worthy of 



QUANTITY OF FOOD. 147 

respect than those already described. They have some 
regard for health,, and many of them duly appreciate 
obedience to the laws of life; some of them have 
studied those laws, and they desire to conform to them ; 
but often, when they have eaten enough, when their 
appetites have been satisfied, and the wants of the 
system supplied by the meal before them, there comes 
some tempting dish in the form of pudding, pie, or 
something of that kind, and — their philosophy van- 
ishes : — they eat ; and they eat just that much too much. 
The Coming -appetiters constitute the eighth and last 
division of this extensive family. These are a valetu- 
dinary Tribulation- Trepid* kind of people; they are 
suffering from " everything in general and nothing in 
particular''' — the disease that afflicted poor Tribulation 
and killed all his ancestors. These unfortunates are 
dyspeptic from over-eating, and their stomachs require 
rest ; but these poor stomachs are bribed and tempted 
by delicate morsels and tit-bits — by tasting "a little of 
this and a little of that" — a little spice, vinegar, spirits, 
&c, until an artificial " coming appetite" is excited ; 
and thus they make an enormous meal, much to the 
injury of the poor, worn-out stomach. No wonder 
that these people suffer tribulation ! And they are 
truly objects of commiseration, for many of them have 
some idea of the cause of all their difficulties ; but 
then they are so wrecked in body and mind that they 
can hardly be considered as responsible agents : they 
are feeble and vacillating, without clearness of per- 
ception or strength of will, and they are the hapless 

* See Noal's inimitable " Charcoal Sketches." 



148 QUANTITY OF FOOD. 

victims of mental and physical sufferings that no lan- 
guage can describe. Let the fate of these warn you 
against their errors ; and should the above description 
of the folly and weakness of our fellow-creatures ex- 
cite a smile, may that smile be mingled with pity, and 
with an inward resolution to act a nobler and a better 
part! 

Effects of Over-Eating. — Excessive indulgence 
in the pleasures of the table has hurried more people 
to the grave than war, pestilence, famine, and alcohol 
combined ! "War may ravage a country for a brief 
period, but many years of peace and prosperity will 
succeed ; a pestilence may waste cities, or even pro- 
vinces, but after all it touches but a fraction of the 
human race ; famine is unknown in many lands, and 
the gaunt form of starving Want is seldom or never 
seen in this happy country of overflowing abundance ; 
the use of alcohol is confined to a class comparatively 
small — most women and children, and many men, 
drink not the burning fluid. In contrast with this, 
behold the work of over-eating! Ite ravages are 
ceaseless ; from year to year, it pursues its work of . 
destruction, without pause or interruption ; it wastes 
not only cities and provinces, but rioting throughout 
the whole broad world, it spreads disease and death 
among all classes, ages, sexes, and conditions — maidens 
and matrons — infants and children — men, young and 
old — the feeble and the robust, are swept indiscrimi- 
nately into the grave by this fell destroyer. And this 
over-eating, combined with the exciting stimulating 
nature of our food, often inflames that thirst which 
can be quenched only by the stronger fire of spiritu- 



QUANTITY OF FOOD. 149 

ous drinks. Thus is over-eating often justly charge- 
able with the evils of intoxication. And that intem- 
perance of all kinds — in eating and drinking alike — 
invites the pestilence that "walketh in darkness, and 
wasteth at noonday," needs no proof. 

Too many Dishes. — After over-eating, the greatest 
error in our dietetic habits is too great variety and 
complication in our dishes. Look at the heterogeneous 
compounds that constitute our modern entertainments, 
even our "plain family dinners." Here we have 
meats of all kinds, cooked in every imaginable un- 
wholesome manner, and served up with an endless list 
of stuffings, seasonings, and garnishments ; with these, 
we have pastries and confectioneries, fruits and sauces, 
tea and coffee, hot drinks and cold drinks, sweet 
drinks and sour drinks, drinks freezing and drinks 
burning ; in short, we have a medley of incompatibles 
that bids defiance even to the subtle analysis of the 
vital chemistry of the stomach. With such habits as 
these, is it strange that people get sick ? is it strange 
that they die ? is it not more strange that they live as 
long as they do, when the system is subjected day by 
day to such outrages? And many more would die, 
did not nature manage to relieve herself by vomiting, 
or in some other way. Our food should be plain and 
simple ; it should have sufficient variety to prevent 
loathing and disgust, but each meal should consist of 
but few dishes. This is a law that cannot he violated 
with impunity. 



13* 



150 OF TEMPERATURE. 



CHAPTER VI. 
OF TEMPERATURE. 

How WE ARE warmed. — Our bodies are warmed 
by natural and artificial means. The natural supply 
of animal heat is furnished by those vital and chemical 
changes which occur throughout the system, and more 
particularly by the union of carbon and oxygen 
through the lungs. This natural supply of heat is 
proportioned to the activity of the organic functions, 
the health of the body, and the density of the air 
breathed. This is the most desirable source of heat ; 
and we should endeavor, by obedience to the laws of 
health, to keep the body in such a state of vigor that 
it may keep up its oiun fires. 

Artificial Heat. — Warming Rooms. — When 
rooms are heated by a fire, special care should be 
taken not to raise the temperature too high. Too 
much heat relaxes the skin and enfeebles the nervous 
system. The body is thus rendered extremely sensi- 
tive to cold, so much so, that persons who are in the 
habit of living in warm rooms, on going out, will 
shiver and feel- exceedingly uncomfortable, in a tem- 
perature quite agreeable to others of different habits. 
But more than mere comfort is involved. People 
cannot remain shut up all the time; and the great 
difference of temperature on going out is the fruitful 
source of colds, pleurisies, rheumatisms, neuralgias, 
&c, &c. Rooms should be just warm enough to be 



OF TEMPERATURE. 151 

comfortable, and no warmer ; and it is safer for them 
to be a little too cold than too warm. The body, in 
health, can bear without injury almost any degree of 
uniform cold short of freezing ; and as our sensitive- 
ness to cold depends very much on habit, we should 
accustom ourselves to as low a temperature as circum- 
stances will permit. 

Dangers of neglecting the above Eule. — By 
neglecting this rule, thousands have been hurried to 
the grave ; for, next to impure air, and improper food 
and drinks, we know of no greater evils than those 
to which we are exposed from sudden changes of 
temperature. It is true that we cannot always shield 
ourselves from sudden changes of weather, but we can 
prepare ourselves to resist such influences by studi- 
ously avoiding over-heated rooms. Perhaps there is 
scarcely a woman who will read these pages who has 
not suffered in person or in family from passing from 
over-heated places of public resort into the open air. 
And could the grave speak, what an awful, what an 
impressive warning would- it give on this subject! 
But it should be remembered, and never forgotten, 
that our own houses may be so highly heated as to 
expose us to all the dangers of public places, so far as 
sudden changes are concerned. In proof of this it is 
only necessary to point to many good domestic women, 
who never attend crowded places of public resort, and 
who, yet, have acquired such morbid sensitiveness by 
keeping too close, that they cannot go out, even on a 
mild spring or summer day, without shivering or 
"catching cold," if nothing worse happens to them. 

"Bad Colds." — It is a prevalent opinion of the 



152 OF TEMPERATURE. 

people that "bad colds" are caused by the coldness 
of the weather. Indeed, a great many seem to think 
that a cold, and especially one of these "bad colds," 
is an actual tangible entity, a solid substance, or 
something of that kind, which creeps into the system, 
and nestles in the throat or lungs, from whence it is 
to be expelled by drowning it out with "verb teas," 
or by the more violent action of some strong medicine. 
If a physician tells such people as these that any ache 
or pain is a cold, and that something must be given 
"to work off the cold," the explanation is entirely 
satisfactory, and the man of pills is set down as "a 
wondrous knowing doctor." Now it is hardly neces- 
sary to say that all this is very absurd. Cold being 
only the absence of heat, has no positive existence ; and 
all medication founded on the idea of a literal expulsion 
of cold is worse than foolishness. A common cold is 
an irritation or inflammation of the mucous membrane 
lining the air-passages (as the nose, throat, bronchial 
tubes, &c), and this inflammation is generally caused 
by a sudden change of weather, and more particularly, 
by a change from cold to warm. Constant and uniform 
cold is not near so likely to affect the body injuriously 
as sudden changes of weather. The best way to avoid 
colds is to preserve the strength of the system by 
shunning all relaxing debilitating habits, and particu- 
larly excessive artificial heat, either by warm rooms 
or by clothing unnecessarily heavy. Gross feeding is 
a frequent cause of colds. 

Climate. — Southern "Women. — It has just been 
3een that there is more danger in heat and in sudden 
changes than in uniform cold. The human system 



OF TEMPERATURE. 153 

can better resist the influence of cold than that of 
great vicissitudes, or the relaxing enervating effects 
of a temperature uniformly high. Hence, the climate 
of our Southern States, with its long hot summers 
and short variable winters, is very trying to the con- 
stitution; while Southern women are exposed to 
dangers peculiar to themselves. In addition to the 
unfriendly influence of climate, they have to contend 
with difficulties originating in their physical organiza- 
tion. These sexual peculiarities, which are common 
to all women, consist in a certain softness and laxness 
of all the fibres and tissues of the body, and an exci- 
table, impressible state of the nervous system. Now, 
a hot climate produces exactly these effects, and hence, 
Southern women are subjected to the combined and 
powerful action of a natural weakness and susceptibili- 
ty, aggravated by the direct and concurrent effects of 
climate. This state of things, conjoined with a total 
disregard of the laws of health in many instances, will 
readily explain that early decay of Southern beauty 
which is a subject of common remark. That the 
women of the South are beautiful, no one will deny. 
"When an artist would paint an ideal beaiuvy. he goes 
to a Southern or Oriental clime for his original ; he 
surrounds his picture with the warm, genial, expan- 
sive atmosphere of the " sunny South;" and, dipping 
his pencil in the glowing sunlight, he tints those lips 

" And cheeks beforo whose bloom the rose 
Its blushing treasure-house might close." 

But, alas ! in actual life, how soon does this full- 
blown, blushing Southern beauty fade away ! How 



154 OF TEMPERATURE. 

soon are the roses of health supplanted by the pale 
lilies of disease ! How soon is the clear transparent 
complexion changed to a dingy yellow I How soon 
do the full round form and smooth features wither 
and shrink under the combined influence of climate, 
constitutional weakness, and bad habits of living! 
Of all women, Southern women should best know and 
obey the laws of health. By a strict observance of 
those laws, those unfriendly influences may be coun- 
teracted — beauty may be retained and health pre- 
served. And our object, in depicting the dangers to 
which Southern women are exposed, has been to 
induce them to provide against those dangers. We 
do sincerely hope that nothing that has been said will 
tend to produce discouragement, under the mistaken 
notion that these evils are natural, and therefore 
unavoidable, and should be submitted to with supine 
resignation. 

The laws of health are natural laws, and by obedi- 
ence to them health may be naturally and confidently 
expected. Will not our fair countrywomen conform, 
then, to those laws ? Will they not strive to retain 
the greatest of all earthly blessings, beauty and 
health? In the women of the South we feel a pecu- 
liar interest ; we have been reared among them ; we 
have rejoiced in their smiles, and sympathized in their 
sorrows ; in sickness, and in that dark hour of distress, 
known only to their sex, we have been called to 
minister to them ; and often, too often, have we been 
able to trace the sufferings that so deeply moved our 
heart to violations of the laws of health. Will not 
our sisters return then from their wanderings, and, 



OF EXERCISE. 155 

by obedience to physiological as well as moral law, 
thus become patterns worthy of imitation in all 
things ? 



CHAPTER VII. 



OF EXERCISE. 



Necessary. — Consequences of Neglect. — Bodily 
exercise is absolutely essential to the proper perform- 
ance of all those vital functions, on which health and 
even life itself depend. Respiration, circulation, and 
digestion, though they are involuntary, yet their full 
and perfect performance is greatly dependent on our 
voluntary movements. Neglect of exercise weakens 
and disorders the stomach, and thus all healthful 
supplies are cut off; it reduces the capacity of the 
chest, and thus the blood is not properly vitalized ; it 
prevents free circulation in the minute vessels, and 
thus assimilation and all the vital changes effected in 
the capillaries are suspended, or imperfectly per- 
formed ; the muscles wither and lose their strength ; 
the blood-vessels become solid cords, and cease to 
convey the vital fluid ; the brain is torpid ; the nerves 
are unstrung ; the breathing is feeble ; the stomach is 
sluggish ; and universal derangement of the whole 
animal economy ensues, ending in stagnation or cessa- 
tion of motion, which is only another name for death 
itself. Life is motion, constant, ceaseless motion. 



156 OF EXERCISE. 

Exercise promotes all the vital movements, and stands 
in direct antagonism to disease, and that torpor which 
merges 

" In the deep stillness of that dreamless stato 
Of sleep that knows no waking joys again." 

Every hygienic precept as to air, food, drink, cloth- 
ing, &c, &c, may be diligently observed, and yet, if 
the one thing needful — exercise, be neglected, neither 
body nor mind can attain its full and perfect develop- 
ment. With correct habits in every other respect, it 
is true, life may be maintained for a time, but it will 
be a dull, monotonous, vegetative existence, " a waste 
of wearisome hours, as tedious as a twice-told tale." 

How Girls are raised. — While boys are allowed 
that freedom from restraint so necessary to their 
physical development, girls, through the influence of 
false notions of gentility, femininity, or something of 
that kind, are hampered and restrained in their move- 
ments, their natural playfulness is repressed, and con- 
sequently, they are stinted and dwarfed in body and 
mind. This process of education, or rather of destruc- 
tion, is commenced soon after the unfortunate little 
feminine emerges from the nursery-room. No time 
is lost in impressing her young mind with the great 
idea that is to govern her whole after-life — that she is 
not a hoy, and not even a child, but a " little woman" — ; 
that she must be prim, demure, and cautious in all her 
movements, "like mamma" — that to run and romp is 
". unladylike," and to kick up her heels an indelible 
reproach on her embryo womanhood. 

Boarding-Schools for Young Ladies. — And 



OF EXERCISE. 157 

when she gets a little older, when the line of sexuality 
is to be still more strongly drawn by sending her to a 
"boarding-school for young ladies," it is then that 
an absurd, unnatural, and health-destroying system 
is more rigidly enforced, until this miniature-woman 
"finishes her education;" and generally about this 
time her health is also finished. We cannot dwell on 
all the evils to which girls (young ladies we should 
have said) are exposed in literary institutions, such as 
impure air, improper food, excessive mental applica- 
tion, &c. These things, combined with want of exer- 
cise, are still destroying multitudes, notwithstanding 
all that has been said and written of late years on 
physical education. Professors annually make some 
eloquent allusions to the subject, in their circulars 
and addresses, and the people respond "all right;" 
but then, the prevalent notions as to the true character 
and mission of woman are so deeply rooted and so 
radically wrong, that it is impossible to make a practi- 
cal application of truths that are theoretically admitted, 
without cavil. The great difficulty in this matter is 
a misconception of the true character of woman. She 
is regarded more as a tender exotic, or a beautiful 
plaything to amuse the idle hours of man, than as a 
"help-meet," as one designed by God to stand by his 
side, and to cheer and support him in all the conflicts 
of life. Hence, a certain degree of delicacy and 
feebleness of body are considered essential elements 
in woman, and among the most attractive of her 
charms ; as if a feeble, over-sensitive, and attenuated 
body must necessarily indicate purity and refinement 
of mind ; or as if the most perfect and robust physical 
14 



158 OF EXERCISE. 

development could not co-exist with all that is beauti- 
ful and lovely in both the moral and physical con- 
stitution of woman! Oh, what deep perversity of 
taste is that which prefers a pale, delicate, artificial 
unnatural caricature of a woman, to a full-blown, full 
grown, rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed, natural woman 
such as the great Creator placed in the garden of Eden 
such as he designed to be the companion, the equal, 
and the helper of man ! Women reared up in accord 
ance with such false notions, " are as little fitted for 
encountering the toils or fulfilling the duties of life, as 
are the plants of a hot-house for being transferred to 
the open borders;" and until all these follies are 
banished from society, so that the precepts of hygiene 
can be put in practice at home and at school, we 
cannot hope for the physical regeneration of our race ; 
for how can poor, puny, sickly, skeleton 'women be 
the mothers of strong, healthy children ? How can 
the stream be pure, when the fountain is corrupted ? 

Exercise among the Fashionable. — The Hope 
of our Country. — We have just seen how the majo- 
rity of girls educated according to the notions of 
" modern society" are ruined in health, by the time 
they leave school ; but should one possess sufficient 
natural vigor of constitution to resist the destructive 
influences to which she has been subjected, the work 
of death is generally completed when she "enters 
society." She then doffs short dresses and pantalettes, 
which are exchanged for long skirts, that are any- 
thing but favorable to free muscular movements. 
She is now denied the little liberty she had in her 
girlish days; and the small amount of exercise 



OF EXERCISE. 159 

allowed her "by the fashions of society, is far from 
being the best for the promotion of health and vigor. 
Exercise on foot is considered "ungenteel," and is 
taken either not at all, or only when the weather and 
everything else are perfectly favorable ; and then this 
exercise, as it is called, is a mere listless stroll for a 
short distance, and is unworthy the name of exercise, 
in comparison with those full, free, natural, unre- 
strained movements which bring all the muscles into 
play, expand the lungs, quicken the circulation, drive 
the blood to the toe and finger ends, arouse the brain, 
invigorate the digestive organs, and reanimate all 
the vital powers. These candidates for fashionable 
honors (!) instead of employing themselves in some 
useful occupation that would give healthful exercise 
to both mind and body, spend their days in lounging 
on sofas, or in making fashionable carriage calls, 
while their mental food consists in the idle gossip and 
the trifling inanities of fashionable life, or in some 
over-wrought story of sickly sentimentalism. And 
are these the hope of our country? Are these the 
mothers of a future generation ? If so, our prospects 
are gloomy indeed. If so, the term of human life, 
already so frightfully abbreviated, must grow shorter 
and shorter, until the race becomes extinct. But, 
thank God, these are only a fraction of the human 
family, confined mostly to the "higher circles" of 
city life. In the country we have a large reserve of 
Nature's Nobleivomen, blooming, healthy, unsophisti- 
cated maidens, who know nothing of the destructive 
follies of upper-tendom, or, knowing, disregard them, 
because they are at war with common sense, subver- 



160 OF EXERCISE. 

sive of morals, restrictive of natural liberty, and 
ruinous to health. We do not pretend to say that all 
country girls are everything that they should be ; but 
in their observance of the laws of health generally, 
and particularly in the matter of exercise, they are 
far in advance of the fashionable devotees of city life ; 
and it is to the country we most mainly look for the 
salvation of our race from physical, as well as moral 
degeneracy. Will not the countrywomen of America 
awake, then, to their high destiny? Will they not 
study, obey, and preach the gospel* of health, until 
the tide of fashionable folly is turned back, which is 
sweeping off so many in our cities, and threatening to 
spread disease and death throughout the land ? Will 
they not listen to the unerring counsels of Nature in 
preference to the senseless requisitions of Fashion ? 
Then will they be the worthy mothers of a noble 
healthy race — then will they achieve a victory over 
Disease and Death more glorious in its effects on the 
human family than the brightest achievements of all 
the sages and heroes of ancient or modern times. 

Manner of Exercising. — Exercise should be of 
such a nature as to bring all the muscles into action. 
If this cannot be done by any single movement, the 
exercises should be varied so as to accomplish this 
end. Walking, when actively performed, is an excel- 
lent exercise for the muscles of the lower extremities. 
And if the arms be placed behind the back, and the 
shoulders be thrown backward, the chest may be 



*We speak reverently — gospel means glad-tidings; and what earthly 
thing is hotter than health ? 



OF EXERCISE. 161 

expanded while engaged in this exercise. For the 
more special means of exercising the muscles of the 
chest, we refer to the chapter on " Air." But in addi- 
tion to the recommendations there made, we would 
suggest a bowling-alley for young ladies. This would 
be a most excellent, healthful, and lady-like exercise 
for both mind and body, combining mental recreation 
with the action of the muscles of the chest, abdomen, 
spine, arms, and legs. Jumping the rope is another 
good exercise, which brings not only the legs, but the 
arms into requisition. If young ladies were a little 
more tomboyish now-a-days, and would indulge freely 
in this and other school-girl exercises, their health 
and happiness would be much promoted, while they 
would lose nothing in the estimation of sensible 
people. Dancing, if it could be practiced in the day- 
time, and in the open air, would be unobjectionable; 
but not better than walking or running, and especially 
when the dancing is performed in the stiff, languid, 
unnatural style required by fashion. Singing and 
reading aloud are excellent methods of cultivating the 
voice organs, and of expanding the chest, provided 
the lungs are supplied with an abundance of pure air. 
But most exercises, when engaged in for the sake or 
exercise, are likely to become irksome and to be "voted 
a bore:" exercise, then, should be combined with 
some useful occupation that will employ both brain 
and muscles. If young ladies would sweep the house, 
dust the furniture, work in the garden, spin, weave, 
and do many things pertaining to good housewifery, 
they would lose nothing in true dignity, while they 
would greatly promote health, and be a much more 
14 * L 



182 OF EXERCISE. 

desirable acquisition to those with whom they may be 
associated in after life. It is very unfortunate that 
the domestic employments which brought health and 
happiness to the households of our mothers, are con- 
sidered menial and beneath the dignity of the daugh- 
ters of this generation. This is all wrong : labor is 
honorable in all, both men and women ; it is in accord- 
ance with the laws of our being, and obedience in this 
respect brings its own sweet reward of virtue, health, 
and happiness, while disobedience will most assuredly 
be followed by the pains and penalties annexed to 
violated law. Eebellion against the law of labor and 
the wasteful extravagances which characterize the 
women of this age, are the reasons why young men 
"cannot afford to marry;" and thus do they fall a 
prey to those evil associations which cause them to 
deride the virtue of women, while many of the latter 
are doomed to lonely maidenhood, or else to marry a 
man in advanced life, who has accumulated sufficient 
means to " furnish an establishment;" but who has 
lost the vigor and freshness of his youth, and who 
can never appreciate womanly worth as he should. 
Carriage-riding is a common, and with many an all- 
sufficient mode of exercising; but this is merely 
passive, requiring no muscular effort except what is 
necessary to keep the body erect. Eiding in a carriage 
will do very well for invalids who are incapable of 
any exertion, and it is a good means of "airing," but 
it should never be considered a good and sufficient 
exercise. Yet how many thousands of women are 
there, whose sum total of exercise consists in a 
carriage-ride over a smooth road, two or three times 



OF EXEECISE. 163 

a week, or perhaps once a week on Sunday! Is it 
strange that such as these should be delicate and nerv- 
ous? is it strange that they fall into a "decline?" — ■ 
that they pine in melancholy and become a burden to 
themselves and families, fretting in gloomy discontent 
while surrounded by wealth and all the externals of 
happiness ? Riding on horseback is preferable to 
carriage exercise, and is considered to be particularly 
appropriate in cases of weak digestive organs; but 
we are disposed to think that this mode of exercise 
has been rather over-rated by N. P. Willis and others ; 
but still, as it has some advantages, and as Fashion 
gives it her sanction, we trust that women will avail 
themselves of it as often as possible. 

Time of Exekcising. — As a general rule, exercise 
should not be taken just before, or just after eating. 
The best time for active exercise is early in the morn- 
ing before breakfast, or between breakfast and dinner. 
But it should be distinctly remembered that a sufficient 
interval should be allowed between exercising and 
eating, to allow the body to quiet down to its ordinary 
condition : the stomach should never be filled while the 
body is fatigued: and yet what habit is more common ? 
To two of the above rules there are exceptions that 
may be mentioned. One of the rules given is that 
active exercise should not be taken soon after eating. 
But there are some cases of morbid sensibility and 
inflammation of the stomach, in which there seems to 
be a concentration of excitement on this organ: in 
such cases as these, exercise after eating draws olY the 
excess of blood and nervous influence from the sto- 
mach, and acts beneficially. The exception to exer- 



164 OF EXERCISE. 

cising before breakfast applies more particularly to 
the inhabitants of chill-and-fever districts. When 
the stomach is empty, the system is more likely to be 
affected by malaria, and we are convinced both from 
theory and observation, that people who are exposed 
to malaria or marsh air, should never go out in the 
morning before eating. 

Extent and Objects of Exercise. — The great 
objects of exercise should be to reinvigorate the 
body, and to work off the worn-out matters in the 
system. But if exercise be carried to excess, the 
surplusage is not only thrown off, but also other ele- 
ments that are necessary to the growth of the body. 
Therefore, exercise should not be excessive and over- 
fatiguing : it should be prolonged and moderate, rather 
than short and laborious, and should be stopped short 
of actual fatigue. The amount of exercise necessary, 
depends greatly on the quantity of food consumed ; 
and as muscular exercise "draws off" from the brain, 
literary persons should carefully guard against "over- 
doing the thing," and should live very light, at the 
same time recruiting the brain by an abundance 
of sleep. There is much more danger of literary 
persons exercising too little than too much, yet the 
following quotation from Dr. Hall may be useful and 
suggestive to some over-zealous reformers. Speaking 
of himself, Dr. Hall says : " When he has an article 
or a book to write in a limited time, he does not exer- 
cise at all ; he goes to bed sooner, gets up later, and 
diminishes the amount of food one-third, and is ready 
to write as early in the morning as there is natural 
light to see with perfect ease. The rapidity and 



OF SLEEP. 165 

readiness with, which the brain and fingers work is 
amazing, as compared with full eating, stimulating 
drinks, with forced exercise and night study."* 

* " Health and Disease," p. 98. 



CHAPTEE YIII. 
OF SLEEP. 

What is Sleep? — It is not necessary to go into 
an argument to prove that sleep is indispensable to 
health, when almost every one has felt the distress- 
ing sensations arising from loss of rest. Sleep is the 
cessation of all the functions that connect us with the 
external world ; and when sleep is profound, the func- 
tions of the brain and all the phenomena of mind are 
also suspended. So that dreaming, in which the 
brain is partially awake, is an evidence that the rest 
is imperfect. Persons who live right seldom dream. 

Time for Sleep. — Fashionable Parties. — 

"This dead of night, this silent hour of darkness, 
Nature for rest ordain'd and soft repose." 

All Nature conspires in proclaiming this truth so 
beautifully expressed. When night spreads her sable 
curtain, the din of business is hushed; the lower 
animals, obedient to the signal, retire to their "grassy 
couch;" a refreshing coolness pervades the air, a 
dreamy stillness rests upon the earth, all, all, inviting 



166 OF SLEEP. 

to repose. How strange then that human beings 
should be deaf to this eloquent language ! How 
strange that they should pervert the order of nature, by 
converting day into night, and night into day ? — And 
yet it is so. With multitudes, night is not a season 
of rest for invigorating the mental and bodily powers, 
but a time for soul-and-body-destroying dissipations 
and " teeming mischiefs." This is the time for 
fashionable parties, where, in addition to want of rest, 
the system is poisoned by impure air, and oppressed 
by excessive and improper eating and drinking ; while 
the mind and all the moral feelings are worked up 
into a feverish state of excitement which reacts with 
terrible effect on the poor, abused, and over-burdened 
physical frame. Can any one believe for a moment 
that the laws of nature can be thus violated with 
impunity ? As soon might a feeble woman expect to 
have the foaming cataract of Niagara poured on her 
head without injury ! No ; as surely as Grod exists, 
so surely will every violation of physical law be 
visited with its legitimate punishment. These laws 
are written in our frame by the hand of the Almighty 
himself; and they are as fixed, and as immutable in 
their nature and consequences, as the Author of them. 
One of these laws is that night was ordained for sleep ; 
and let not those who avoid scenes of excitement and 
dissipation, and who yet keep late hours, flatter them- 
selves that they incur no risk. In one respect at least, 
they subvert the order of nature, and must suffer 
accordingly. Day sleep will not answer as a substitute 
for night sleep. Circumstances may sometimes render 
it necessary to make up in the day for unavoidable 



OF SLEEP. 167 

loss of rest ; yet this necessity should, as far as possible, 
be avoided. The rule is — " Early to bed and early to 
rise, 1,1 &c. 

How long should we Sleep ? — The amount of 
sleep necessary will vary according to age and habits 
of life, and probably according to sex. Children 
require more sleep than grown persons. It is a com- 
mon opinion that women need more sleep than men, 
and this is not unreasonable, when we take into con- 
sideration the greater delicacy of woman. Those who 
lead an active laborious life, of course require more 
sleep than those who live differently. No precise rule 
of universal applicability can be given, then ; the one 
just mentioned — "Early to bed and early to rise" — is 
a safe guide for all ; for there is more danger of sleep- 
ing too little than too much, and we cannot go far 
wrong, if we follow the dictates of nature, and sleep 
in the night, and the night only. Many people, when 
engaged in some particular task, imagine that they 
gain greatly by stealing the hours which should be 
devoted to repose : this is a great mistake ; by taking 
the accustomed amount of sleep, the mind and body 
are reinvigorated, the health is preserved, and the 
work is better, if not more speedily done. Too much 
sleep produces torpor and imbecility of mind, and 
debility of body ; and therefore all day sleep should, 
as a general rule, be excluded. Yet a siesta, or after- 
dinner nap, in the long sultry days of summer, is 
certainly very pleasant, and, in our opinion, as health- 
ful as pleasant, provided the nap is not longer than one 
hour, and is not taken immediately after a hearty 
meal. To avoid sleeping too long, it would be best 



168 OF SLEEP. 

to take this nap sitting up, leaning the head on a table 
as suggested by Dr. Hall. 

Beds, Fires, &c. — Considerations of economy have 
banished feather-beds from many public-houses ; and 
it would be well if the more important consideration 
of health would induce people to forego the luxury 
of soft feather-beds entirely. They are non-con 
ductors of electricity, and therefore interfere with the 
electric currents of the body ; and besides this, they 
are a fit reservoir for the poisonous and contagious 
emanations from the bodies of previous occupants; 
and they also unduly heat the body, thus producing 
an enervating effect. They should therefore be ex- 
cluded by all who value health more than a soft bed ; 
and their places should be supplied by mattresses 
made of straw, hair, or moss, or, what is better than 
either, cotton. Cotton-beds are sufficiently warm, and 
persons who become accustomed to them, will find 
them far more comfortable than to be buried in 
feathers. As to the ventilation of sleeping-rooms, we 
have already spoken sufficiently. As a general rule, 
fires should not be left burning in sleeping-rooms on 
retiring at night : where the room is damp, it may be 
advisable to have a fire kindled before going to bed, 
but it should be extinguished on retiring. 

Position. — Night-Caps. — Dreams of Bliss. — The 
position of the body during sleep is worthy of atten- 
tion. When the head is much higher than the 
shoulders it tends to produce deformity, and interferes 
with free breathing. The shoulders, then, should be 
on the same plane with the head, and both should be 
but slightly elevated. Night caps, if used at all, 



OF DRESS. 169 

should be very thin : if it is necessary to use anything 
to keep the hair back, it would be best to wear a 
netted or lace cap. And finally we would remark, if 
our fair readers will obey the rules contained in this 
chapter, and follow the other precepts of hygiene, 
they may be assured of deep and quiet sleep, undis- 
turbed by frightful dreams ; for if they dream at all, it 
will be such rosy blissful dreams, as the Angel of 
Health delights to send to the couch of maiden purity — 
such as the soft whisperings that light the smile of 
dreaming infancy. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

OF DRESS. 

In Dress, consult Health and Comfort first — Ornament next. 

Dress necessary. — Its Abuses. — The human body 
possessing no natural covering like that of most of 
the lower animals, clothing seems to be necessary to 
some extent, to shield us from the rays of the sun, and 
to retain the heat of our bodies. But those who are 
conversant with Bible history know that the first 
attempt at dress had its origin in the depravity of 
human nature, consequent on the fall of man from his 
pristine purity and innocency. It is equally true that 
the amount of clothing required depends very much 
on habit ; for one who is accustomed to wearing thin 
and light clothing will feel comfortable, while others 
15 



170 OF DRESS. 

of different habits will shiver with cold, even when 
clad in cloaks, shawls, and flannel under -garments. 
It is also highly probable that virtue and purity have 
not in any wise been promoted by the concealments 
of dress. And when we take these things into con- 
sideration, together with the boundless extravagances 
and follies of dress, and the numberless diseases and 
deaths that have ensued therefrom, we may be ready 
to come to the conclusion, that this human device has 
been a greater curse than a blessing to mankind. 
But the abuse of a thing is no legitimate argument 
against its proper use ; and, as God sanctioned the use 
of clothing by making " coats of skin" for Adam and 
Eve,* it would be worse than idle to advocate the 
abolition of dress under existing circumstances. 

The Law of Dress. — The great law of dress, to 
which everything should be made subservient, has 
already been announced — Health and comfort first, — 
ornament next. The dress should be plain, neat, clean, 
loose, and rather light than heavy. It should be plain 
and neat, because these are the elements of true 
beauty ; and because God clothed our first parents in 
simple skins, thus showing the great design of dress 
to be utility, and not ornament. The dress should be 
clean, because it is demanded by decency and good 
taste ; it should be loose and light, so as to avoid all 
oppression and restraint, so that every muscle may 
have the most perfect freedom of motion, while mind 
and body are equally at ease. 

Bonnets. — Low Dresses. — Tight Dresses. — 

* Genesis, iii. 21. 



OF DRESS. 171 

Pointed Waists, &c. — The slightest review of the 
fashions of the day will convince every one, that they, 
with very few exceptions, stand directly opposed to 
health and comfort ; and that the latter have been 
sacrificed through false notions of the beautiful, or 
through a blind subservience to the decrees of the 
fickle goddess. This is more particularly true of the 
dress of women, for their apparel is chosen more for 
ornament than for health, comfort, economy, or utility. 
In proof of this it is only necessary to mention those 
airy things of lace, straw, hair, and ribbons, called 
bonnets. And those gossamer materials, that constitute 
a large part of the dress of women, and which afford 
about as much protection as cobwebs, are no better. 
Such flimsy ornaments (we cannot call them clothing) 
have no service in them, and they are no protection 
against the piercing blasts of winter. One important 
law of dress is, that uniformity should be observed, 
and all great and sudden changes avoided. But here 
is a young lady who generally has the upper part of 
her person covered ; but now she is about to attend a 
ball or evening party, and Fashion decrees that she 
must wear a " low neck and short sleeves :" her arms 
and neck are therefore entirely bare, or they have 
nothing over them except some gauzy, web-like tissue, 
which gives no protection, and which leaves her 
snowy breast the ready spoil of hungry eyes. And 
then when the body is debilitated and relaxed, from 
breathing a heated and vitiated air for hours, and from 
loss of rest, and when it is reeking with perspiration, 
she exposes herself to the cold and frosty night air! 
Is it at all strange that such gross violations of the 



172 OF DEE53. 

laws of health, as this should be followed by disease 
and death ? This unequal temperature, this exposure 
of parts usually covered, unbalances the circulation, 
and is the fruitful source of "bad colds," consumptions, 
rheumatisms, <fcc, &c. And those who thus expose 
themselves must suffer the consequences. But there 
is another still greater evil than this half-dressing, and 
that is tight dressing. TTe have already seen how 
yielding and compressible the ribs are. Compression 
of the chest by tight dress-bodies, or in any other 
way, must then seriously diminish the breathing 
capacity of the lungs, and prevent those changes in 
the blood which are necessary to purify it and fit it 
for its important offices in the animal economy. The 
dress-bodies worn in the present day interfere with 
the breathing about as much as corsets : they are too 
long, too closely fitting, and they have too much whale- 
bone about them. These bodies thus splinted up are 
fastened with unyielding hooks and eyes, and the chest 
is as much compressed as if bound with the strongest 
cords. 

But these tight and long-pointed dress-bodies not 
only compress the lungs ; they also press the stomach, 
liver, and bowels downward, thus causing dyspepsia, 
liver complaint, and costiveness, while the womb is 
forced downwards, causing that very common and 
troublesome disorder, "falling of the womb." But 
the evil stops not here : the muscles of the back 
and chest are partially paralyzed from this com- 
pression, and therefore, when they are released from 
their bondage, they are incapable of sustaining the 
body erect, and it falls forward, causing spinal curva- 



OF DKESS. 173 

ture and " round shoulders." We have, then, as the 
direct result of compression, the following train of dis- 
orders : Eespiration is impeded ; the blood is imper- 
fectly vitalized, and as a consequence all the secretions 
and excretions of the body are deranged ; the breath- 
ing is hurried ; the heart is excited ; there is palpita- 
tion of this organ, with pains in the breast. The 
abdominal organs share in the disorder of those of 
the chest; the stomach, liver, and womb are dis- 
placed, and thus we have falling of the womb and 
dyspepsia, with its thousand untold and indescribable 
symptoms, as sick stomach, deranged bowels, nervous- 
ness, low spirits, &c., &c. The brain, the great foun- 
tain of vitality and intellectuality, also participates in 
the general derangement, and congestion or rush of 
blood to the head ensues, as is manifested by giddi- 
ness, throbbing, headache, trembling, &c. Now if to 
these direct effects of impeded respiration, the aggra- 
vations that necessarily ensue from spinal curvature 
be added, we have a picture of disease and suffering 
that may well startle the most thoughtless. And this 
picture is not overdrawn, for the originals may be 
seen, alas ! in every part of our country. 

Eeasons foe these Tight Bodies. — Only two 
plausible reasons can be adduced to explain this 
absurd and health-destroying fashion. One of these 
is the mistaken idea that it renders the person more 
beautiful, and the other is to obtain mechanical aid for 
enfeebled muscles, and thus to secure a "good car- 
riage." But both these designs will either fail 
entirely of accomplishment, or only partial and tem- 
15* 



174 OF DKESS. 

porary success will be obtained, at the expense of ease, 
of health, and even life itself. For no one of good 
taste can admire an artificial, contracted waist. And 
while we would not insinuate that the main object of 
the dress of women should be to excite the admiration 
of men, we trust that our fair readers will excuse us 
for reminding them that the full and graceful rotun- 
dity of Nature is much more agreeable to our sex 
than the wasp-waists and artificial constrictions of 
Fashion ; for, to speak plainly, men generally regard 
all such attempts with secret aversion and disgust; 
while with many those feelings are mingled with sor- 
row, in view of the dreadful consequences that must 
ensue from these vain and futile efforts to improve on 
Nature's handiwork. A good carriage, or what is 
esteemed as such, may possibly be obtained by artifi- 
cial support to the muscles of the chest ; but let us for 
a moment trace the consequences of success. Here 
then is a young lady, or a girl (all girls are young 
ladies now-a-days) ; she has been reared amid the re- 
finements, enervations, and constraints of " modern 
society;" she has been closely confined within doors, 
excluded from the light and air ; she has drunk warm 
drinks, and fed on crude, indigestible food; she has 
slept on feather-beds, and kept late hours ; in short, 
she has violated every law of health, until her phys- 
ical frame is so enfeebled that she is wholly incapa- 
ble of any continuous muscular effort. And now she 
is about to "enter society," and a good carriage is an 
indispensable passport to favor. The head must be 
held as erect as that of a militia captain ; the shoulders 
must be kept back ; the body must incline neither to 



OF DEESS. 175 

the right nor the left, but must sit, stand, and move 
according to the rules prescribed by the dancing- 
master. Now, does any one believe that such unfor- 
tunate victims as we have described, who may be 
found all over the land, in town and country, are 
equal to the task imposed upon them? It is an 
established physiological fact that the muscles are 
incapable of continued action, but that contraction 
and relaxation must alternate. How, then, can these 
feeble and trembling bodies accomplish what wo aid be 
impossible even for a giant ? What is the remedy ? 
Can ingenuity overcome a physical impossibility? 
Yes, even this may be done for a time, by artificial 
support ; and as a good carriage must be secured at 
all hazards, the muscles are corded, and splinted, and 
braced; and thus, the end is attained without muscular 
effort. A happy idea, truly! Mother and daughter 
are both equally delighted ; one because she is relieved 
from the labor of trying to do what she cannot ; and 
the other because the lovely daughter can now retain 
the desired position, and no thanks to perverse dame 
Nature. And thus is the body made to conform to 
the stiff, languid, unnatural, constrained, and mechani- 
cal movements which are considered essential to a 
good carriage. And what follows ? The muscles of 
the chest become still more feeble, and even paralyzed, 
from inaction, in accordance with another physio- 
logical law which requires that muscles shall have 
exercise as well as rest. Thus do the muscles become 
incapable of keeping the body erect, and the spine 
bends forward, and the unfortunate object of so much 
maternal solicitude becomes "hump-shouldoiYd" as 



176 OF DEESS. 

well as diseased ; and thus are blighted all the fond 
anticipations of the attainment of beauty and grace ! 

HOW" TO ACQUIRE A GOOD CARRIAGE. — In view 

of these facts, then, we sincerely hope that health and 
life will no longer be sacrificed to false ideas of the 
beautiful ; for 

"Nature when unadorned 's adorned the most;" 

and perfect health, beauty, and grace can be obtained 
only by leaving the body free and unrestrained. If 
our readers would secure that desirable grace, a good 
carriage, they must live naturally and unartiflcially — 
they must let Nature do her own perfect work without 
the interference of the dressmaker, or dancing-master ; 
they must have an abundance of fresh air, wholesome 
food, a plenty of sleep, and above all, a plenty of 
exercise, with the most perfect freedom of every muscle. 
A girl thus raised might appear a little hoidenish, and 
even a little tomboyish, according to modern notions ; 
but such a girl could not be ungraceful to one who 
looked with the right kind of eyes at things. 

Thin Shoes. — How to protect the Feet, &c. — 
Another great error in the dress of women is the 
custom of wearing thin paper-soled shoes. The 
circulation in the feet, legs, and other parts distant 
from the heart is naturally more affected by cold than 
those parts nearer the heart. The circulation in those 
parts being more feeble than in others, special care 
should be taken to keep the feet and hands warm, 
But the shoes generally worn by women are a very 
inadequate protection against wet and cold, and hence, 
the circulation is interrupted, and the blood which 



OF DKESS. 177 

should circulate through the feet is thrown on the 
vital internal organs, often causing the most serious 
and fatal diseases. This interference with the circula- 
tion is also increased by the tightness of the shoes, 
which causes them to compress the blood-vessels, while 
the same thing gives rise to corns and bunions, which 
render walking so painful as to prevent that exercise 
so essential to health. Shoes should be sufficient ly 
thick to protect the feet from wet and cold, and they 
should be loose enough to allow a free circulation. 
India rubber shoes are objectionable because they 
prevent evaporation, and keep the feet too damp from 
perspiration. They should only be worn occasionally 
as over-shoes. Thick cork or leather soles afford the 
best protection, all things considered. For habitually 
cold feet, the best of all remedies is to dip them in 
cold water every night and then rub them well after- 
wards. Corns may be permanently cured by soaking 
them well in warm water, trimming them closely with 
a sharp knife, and then placing over them one or two 
sealing- wafers. This is to be followed by soft shoes 
that will not cramp the feet, and if these shoes be 
continued, the corns will never return. The legs 
should be protected in winter by drawers, in addition 
to the stockings. As a general rule, cotton stockings 
are better for health than yarn. Garters, by prevent- 
ing the free flow of the blood through the veins, 
interfere with the circulation, and sometimes cause the 
veins to become enlarged and knotty; therefore, if 
anything is used to keep the stockings up, it should 
be something very elastic and yielding. 

Hoop-Skibts. — Long Dkesses. — Until the intro- 
M 



178 OF DRESS. 

duction of hoop-skirts, women suffered greatly from 
the weight and heat of the number of under-garments 
that were found necessary to give sufficient fullness 
to the dress. This excess of clothing hung on to the 
hips and lower part of the abdomen is well calculated 
to cause "falling of the womb" by the mere weight; 
and at the same time, the excessive heat causes relaxa- 
tion, which makes the womb much more easy to 
displace, and which is a frequent cause of " whites." 
When this state of things is combined with long 
pointed waists and corsets, or bodies which are as 
tight as corsets, no wonder that the above diseases are 
so common; for the womb could hardly resist the 
influence of a heavy dragging weight hung on to it 
below, while, at the same time, crowded down by the 
stomach, liver, &c, from above. 

In the matter of hoop-skirts, then, we are glad to 
find fashion, for once, on the side of health and 
comfort. This fashion renders it unnecessary to resort 
to so many under-skirts to make the dress sufficiently 
full. And even admitting that the number of skirts 
is not diminished, the downward dragging weight is 
obviated, to a great extent, by the resisting hoops 
which sustain them. This fashion can well be toler- 
ated, when the widest expansion cannot be injurious to 
health : and it is much to be desired that this expan- 
sion should extend upward until the bodies of dresses 
become a little more ample. The very long dresses 
of the present day are objectionable. They are 
cumbersome, uncleanly, and wastefully extravagant. 
They prevent- freedom of motion in walking; they 
gather the dirt from the roads and streets as they 



OF DEESS. 179 

drag their beautiful lengths along ; and they cannot 
possibly last. In view of all these things, then, and 
others that might be mentioned, our verdict is : Let 
the skirts of dresses be sufficiently Bloomerized to 
swing clear of the ground, if no more. 

Undek-GtAkments. — Cooling off. — Flannel and 
silk under-garments are much worn, and are strongly 
advocated by many physicians, but in the large ma- 
jority of cases we think they might well be dispensed 
with ; for they render the skin highly susceptible to 
cold, and the danger of removing them is so great in 
a variable climate like ours, that, in our opinion, more 
" colds" have been caused than prevented, and more 
lives lost than saved, by their use. Those who wear 
their flannels next the skin all the year, and who have 
smarted under them in warm weather, and those who, 
to avoid this evil, have "changed" too early, will 
equally agree that there is a better way. This will 
be pointed out hereafter. We conclude then by re- 
marking that flannel next the skin should be avoided, 
except under peculiar circumstances of disease, great 
debility, or unusual exposure. When worn at all it 
should either be worn all the year round, or the 
weather should be warm and well settled, before it is 
thrown off. 

Under this head we may properly say a few words 
about cooling off. Persons should never sit or lie 
down in a current of air, or remove any of the clothing, 
after ceasing from active exercise. Instead of lighten- 
ing the dress, it should be increased under these circum- 
stances, by throwing on a cloak, cape, or shawl, even 
in summer. Attention to this simple rule would save 



180 OF DKESS. 

many lives annually, for the most dangerous and fatal 
forms of disease are caused by cooling off too rapidly. 

Management of the Haik. — The hair should 
never be twisted, knotted, or pulled contrary to its 
natural direction, if you would avoid baldness and 
head-ache. The scalp should be washed and rubbed 
frequently with cold water, which will generally be 
sufficient to keep the hair from falling out, and to keep 
it smooth and glossy, without the use of grease and 
pomatums, which should never be used except as a 
temporary expedient in some rare cases. The water 
should be well rubbed in around the roots of the hair, 
with the ends of the fingers, avoiding wetting the body 
of the hair, as far as possible. Should the scalp be 
obstinately dry and harsh, it may be safely washed 
with a weak cold solution of green tea, or with spirits 
of Castile soap containing a few grains of tannin, as 
prescribed by Dr. Hall. In cases of this kind the 
following may be applied : alcohol eight parts, water 
eight parts, spirits of hartshorn one part. Cologne 
water may also be used; but perhaps the best plan 
under these circumstances, and especially if there be 
an accumulation of dandruff, is to have the head 
thoroughly shampooed, after the fashion of the barbers, 
repeating the operation at intervals, until the scalp is 
perfectly clean, and is stimulated into vigorous health- 
ful action. The daily use of the fine comb is also 
excellent in these cases. 

Okigin of the Fashions. — We would not cast a 
shadow of reproach on the virtue of American women, 
but we must say that many of the fashions adopted 
by them, originated with less virtuous women, and 



OF DEESS. 181 

were intended to render them more attractive in the 
eyes of lewd men. These fashions are imported from 
France mostly, and they are adopted by our women 
without a moment's thought as to their original design. 
There can be but little doubt that the explanation 
above given will account for the introduction of low- 
necked dresses, short sleeves, pads, &c. Now it is too 
bad for us to be thus led by the nose, in matters of 
dress, by the most licentious people on the face of the 
earth perhaps, and the women of America should show 
their independence and good sense by sternly resisting 
all fashions that outrage decency, pander to vice, or 
jeopardize health. 

Rules to be hung over every Lady's Looking- 
glass. 

1st. Consult health and comfort first — ornament 
next. 

2d. Let the dress be so fitted and arranged that 
body and mind will be equally at ease. 

3d. Let the dress be uniform: avoid all sudden 
changes. 

4th. Let the dress be rather light than heavy. 

5th. Never expose a part of the body usually 
covered. 

6th. Put on a shawl or cloak after exercise, &c. 

7th. Keep the feet, legs, and arms well clad. 

8th. Never adopt any fashion that requires any 
improper exposure of any part of your person. 



16 



182 OF BATHES G. 



CHAPTER X. 
OF BATHING. 

Bathing necessary. — As we shall have much to 
say on the hygienic and medicinal nse of water, it 
may be proper to premise that we do not belong to 
the hydro-maniacal class who seem to think that the 
human skin was made only to be washed. Indeed, we 
cannot say that bathing would be necessary at all, if 
all our habits were made to conform to the laws of 
our organism ; if the passions were duly controlled 
and properly directed; if diet, exercise, clothing, 
temperature, air, sleep, amusements, &c, were just as 
they should be, bathing would still be desirable as a 
pleasurable indulgence, and as a measure of cleanli- 
ness, but it would not be essential to the preservation 
of health. And as ladies are less subject to contami- 
nation than the "rest of mankind," they would seldom 
find it necessary to bathe for the purpose of purifica- 
tion. But they, if possible, are even more unphysio- 
logical in their habits than men : and they are 
peculiarly exposed, "as society now exists," to all 
those influences which result in torpor of the capillary 
system of vessels, and congestion or engorgement of 
the internal organs. Bathing may be regarded then 
as absolutely indispensable ; for, while it may not be 
competent to counteract all the evils consequent on 
numberless violations of the laws of life, there is 



OF BATHING. 183 

nothing so direct and effectual in the removal of those 
internal congestions, which may be considered the 
sum total of the multiform maladies to which civilized 
flesh is heir. Every house then should have a bathing 
apartment ; but in the absence of all other con- 
veniences, a quart of water and a towel can be procured 
at all places, and a general "wash down" or bath of 
some kind should be taken frequently. 

Manner in which Water acts. — As a knowledge 
of the physiological action of water is essential to its 
judicious use, either as a preventive or curative agent, 
we invite special attention to the following explana- 
tions on this point. The application of cold water to 
the surface is followed by two distinct and opposite 
effects. The first, or direct effect, is that of a sedative 
— that is, it abstracts heat and depresses the vital 
powers. This temporary depression is followed by 
reaction, which is the second, or indirect effect resulting 
from the use of water of a lower temperature than 
the body. In its indirect reactive action, it is stimulant 
or excitant. We have, then, the direct sedative, and 
the indirect excitant effects of cold water. Let us now 
see how each of these effects is manifested. When 
the water comes in contact with the skin, the first 
result is a vivid shock to the whole nervous system. 
This is manifested by shivering, great dullness, and 
involuntary contraction of the muscles, sometimes 
amounting to a "cramp." Simultaneous with this 
shock, there is repulsion, or driving back of the fluids 
to the internal organs. This shows itself in a sensible 
diminution of the temperature of the surface, and by 
paleness and shrinking of the skin, fullness of the 



184 OF BATHING. 

head, " goose bumps/' &c. When reaction ensues, 
there is a strong determination to the minute vessels 
of the skin, and perhaps to the same system of vessels 
(capillary) in every part of the body. This is mani- 
fested by an increase of temperature, by the expansion 
of the skin, by a return of its color, by the disappear- 
ance of all feelings of oppression, and by the substitu- 
tion of an indescribably delightful glow, a buoyancy 
and elasticity, which seem to give new life and energy 
to the whole system, mental and bodily. The degree 
of reaction after the cold bath is, in general, propor- 
tioned to the coldness of the water ; to the suddenness and 
force of the immersion ; to the vigor of the circulation in 
general, and more 'particularly that of the surface ; to the 
muscular movements IN the bath ; to the friction and 
exercise AFTER the bath ; and finally, within certain 
limits, to the period of stay in it. 

The different Kinds of Baths. — Baths are 
commonly divided into hot, warm, cold, and tepid ; 
but as the terms hot and cold are entirely relative, 
what is hot or warm to one person being cool or cold 
to another, according to the temperature of the body, 
we propose to divide all baths into two classes, plus 
and minus. To the first class, belong all baths above 
the actual or relative temperature of the body — all baths 
which act primarily as stimulants or excitants. The 
second class includes all baths below the actual or 
relative temperature — all which abstract heat, and 
exert a sedative influence. To the first class, belongs 
what is commonly called the hot bath : and the warm 
bath properly belongs to the second, though writers 
have confounded the hot and warm bath, and frequent- 



OF BATHING. 185 

ly prescribe the latter as if it were a stimulant instead 
of a sedative. It is hardly necessary to say that the 
tepid, cool, and cold baths of course belong to the 
minus or sedative division. The warm bath is a most 
valuable medicinal agent, but its hygienic uses are 
much more restricted than those of the cold bath. 
Indeed, it should but seldom be resorted to as a pre- 
ventive of sickness, except by very feeble persons, 
and as a preparatory measure. 

Tempekatuke and Time of Bathing. — The par- 
ticular kind of bath, the temperature, &c, should be 
regulated by the condition and convenience of the 
bathers. Water may be used hygienically, by general 
and partial ablutions, by plunging, by sponging, and by 
showering. When persons are in vigorous health, and 
have the necessary facilities, the cold plunge or shower 
bath is highly conducive both to health and comfort 
The fact is, ladies, if you have never experienced the 
indescribably delightful sensations resulting from the 
reactive glow of the cold shower or plunge bath, you 
have missed one of the greatest enjoyments of life 
This is an excitement far more pleasant than that 
produced by snuff, opium, wine, or any other stimu- 
lant ; and even the last sensation novel is nothing to 
compare to it ; while the best of all is, instead of 
enervating and destroying, it invigorates and pre- 
serves : it allays the tumult of passion, and " soothes a 
troubled breast;" it promotes cheerfulness, beautifies 
the complexion, strengthens the muscles, quiets the 
nerves, purifies the blood, expands the superficial 
vessels of the skin, wakes up the dormant energies of 
the whole system, relieves internal oppression, and 
16* 



186 OF BATHING. 

conduces in every way to health of body and mind, and 
is therefore one of the very best securities for a "green 
old age." Go, then, blooming maidens and mothers, 
wash and be — healthy ; plunge fearlessly into lake and 
stream; or let the crystal drops of health-giving water 
play freely upon you, and you will soon be willing to 
incur the trouble and inconvenience for the pure 
enjoyment, to say nothing of health. 

Swimming is one of the most agreeable and healthful 
accompaniments of bathing, and ladies should acquire 
this very desirable art ; for apart from the advantages 
mentioned, it may be the means of saving them from 
the dangers to which they are so often exposed in this 
reckless traveling age. Of course it is understood 
that the above is intended only for vigorous persons ; 
those that are more feeble, and children under a year 
old, should use a tepid bath at first, gradually 
reducing the temperature as the system becomes 
accustomed to the water. By pursuing this course, 
very feeble persons, and delicate children, may take 
some form of cold bath daily, not only without injury 
but with great benefit ; and every man, woman, and 
child in the land should bathe or wash at least once a 
week, in water either warm, tepid, or cold, according 
to circumstances ; but as a general rule, the colder the 
better. Yet while it is true, that cold water is the 
best as a hygienic agent, we must repeat our caution 
against its use without due regard to the attendant 
circumstances of each individual case ; and we consider 
this caution the more necessary because it is no 
uncommon thing for feeble and sensitive persons who 
have never been accustomed to bathing, to begin with 



OF BATHING. 187 

the cold shower -bath, or cold affusion. Those who 
act thus unwisely, often experience ill effects, and they 
very improperly come to the conclusion that water is 
entirely unsuited to their case, and perhaps abandon 
it for ever, and never cease to decry one of the best, if 
not the very best, of all health-preservers. Sponging 
the upper portion of the body in cold water is one of 
the very best preventives of coughs and colds, and is 
far preferable to the use of silks and flannels next the 
skin. We would advise those who have " weak lungs," 
to wet the chest, neck, and arms every morning in 
cold water, following this application by active friction 
with a coarse towel or hair glove. Very delicate 
persons should use the water tepid or warm at first. 
If these directions were judiciously adhered to, we 
think that silk and flannel under-garments might well 
be dispensed with in the large majority of cases in 
which they are now used ; for the cold water is not only 
a better protection against atmospheric vicissitudes, 
but it is more pleasant and more safe, whatever hydro- 
phobic people may think of the latter position. The 
dangers of flannels, &c, have already been adverted to. 
The time of bathing should be duly regarded. No 
general, or even extensive partial bath should be 
taken immediately after eating, or when the body is 
fatigued or exhausted from exertion, or any other 
depressing influence. There should be an interval of 
two or three hours between the meal and the bath, 
and even a longer time than this, if the digestion is slow 
and difficult. Early in the morning is the host and 
most convenient time for bathing, and the vital react- 
ive powers are generally stronger at this time from 



188 OF BATHING. 

the reinvigorating effects of "tired Nature's sweet 
restorer." 

Means of pkocuking- Keaction. — In the use of 
the cold bath, the most essential thing is to obtain 
full and vigorous reaction; for to this, its hygienic 
virtues are mainly due, and without it, more or less 
injury must inevitably ensue. For securing reaction, 
exercise is worthy of the first consideration. This 
should precede and follow the bath whenever it is 
practicable. For, while fatigue is to be carefully 
guarded against, sufficient exercise to cause a glow and 
even perspiration will insure vigorous reaction with 
all its attendant benefits. It is a very prevalent error 
that it is highly injurious to check perspiration by 
the application of cold water to the surface ; but so 
far is this from being true that it is best to exercise 
to the perspiring point, as a preparatory step ; pro- 
vided, always, that fatigue and exhaustion are not 
induced. 

But exercise after the bath is even more important ; 
and it should always be used to as great an extent as 
the nature of the case will allow. Exercise in the 
bath, is also very beneficial, and hence, the advantages 
of swimming, rubbing with one's own hands, &c. It 
has been seen that the reaction within certain limits, 
is proportioned to the coldness of the water, and the 
period of stay in it : that is, the colder the water, and 
the longer the stay, the greater the reaction. But as 
the reactive powers can be known only by experiment, 
the most prudent course would be to test the vital 
resistance, by reducing the temperature of the bath 
gradually, and by remaining in it but a short time at 



OF BATHING. 189 

arst ; and it should be distinctly remembered that the water 
is too cold, or the immersion too long, when headache, dull- 
ness, and chilliness remain for any length of time after a 
cold bath. To remove these effects, and to promote 
reaction when they are not present, active friction is 
second only to exercise, and it should always be used 
when a strong determination to the surface is desired — 
when the reactive powers are naturally feeble — or when 
debility or any other circumstance prevents exercise. 
Friction is best performed with a coarse towel, a flesh 
brush, or hair glove, or piece of grass cloth ; and the 
hand itself is excellent when passed rapidly over the 
body ; indeed, in many cases it seems to be preferable to 
anything else, on account of its warmth, its ready 
adaptation to the inequalities of the body, and perhaps, 
to an electric or magnetic influence. 

Objections to Bathing. — It has been seen that we 
are a strong advocate for bathing ; and notwithstanding 
our disclaimer, some may still consider us a little hydro- 
maniacal. We cannot undertake to answer all the 
objections that have been urged against frequent bath- 
ing. The most plausible one is that bathing washes 
away the oil that lubricates the skin ; and one late writer 
compares our skins to the scales of fishes. All that 
we have to say to this is that there is little or no 
analogy between the human skin and that of fishes, 
and if it were possible to remove the oil, so that we 
could not bend about, it might be readily resuppliod 
artificially. When such arguments as these are used, 
we can but think that the objectors are hard run by 
hydropaths. 



190 OF THE EXCRETIONS. 



CHAPTEE XL 
OF THE EXCRETIONS. 

Nature of the Excretions. — The excretions are 
those evacuations from the lungs, liver, skin, bowels, 
and kidneys, by which worn-out, useless, and injurious 
matters are thrown off from the body. The proper 
action of the excretory organs mentioned, is absolutely 
essential to health, and even existence itself; for the 
suspension of any one of them, for any length of time, 
is followed by the most violent forms of disease, result- 
ing, without speedy relief, in death. The excretions 
are divided into voluntary and involuntary. Over the 
excretory functions of the lungs, liver, and skin, the 
will has no direct control. Yet the proper perform- 
ance of their functions may be secured by due attention 
to all the hygienic agents, already passed in review, 
and those yet to be noticed. It is only necessary, 
then, to mention the symptoms by which disorder of 
these organs is manifested. When the lungs fail to 
perform their functions, the skin is pale and dull, the 
expression is lifeless, and numberless diseases ensue 
as a consequence of poisoned blood which has not 
been purified, &c. If the liver fails to throw off its 
bile, the latter is mingled with the current of circula- 
tion, staining the skin and eyes yellow, and causing 
headache, dullness of spirits, dyspepsia, and many 
other symptoms. If the skin does not perform its 
functions properly, the blood is poisoned, and the 



OF THE EXCRETIONS. 191 

lungs, brain, heart, liver, bowels, and in short, all the 
vital organs are affected, as is manifested by coughs, 
inflammation of the lungs, gripings, diarrhoeas, exces- 
sive discharges from, and irritation of the kidneys, 
&c, &c. How vitally important, then, that these 
safety-valves of the system should be kept in a pro- 
per condition for the performance of their offices ! 

The Evacuations from the Kidneys and 
Bowels. — The kidneys and bowels free the body from 
those grosser matters which cannot be retained, even 
for a short time, without the most serious consequences. 
And as the discharges from these organs are con- 
trolled by the will, we may say that health, so far as 
the evacuation of the bladder and bowels is concerned, 
depends entirely on our own conduct. It is true that 
our health in other respects, is largely dependent on 
ourselves, but it is more particularly so with regard 
to the voluntary evacuations. Constipation, with its 
long train of disagreeable disorders, such as fetid 
breath, bad taste in the mouth, dyspepsia, piles, colic, 
&c, &c, is often produced in women by neglecting 
the solicitations of nature — by failing to comply with 
the desire to evacuate the bowels. By neglecting to 
discharge the bladder at the proper time, women are 
exposed to some of the most dangerous forms of womb 
disorder, as we shall see hereafter. 

The most effectual method of avoiding the numerous 
diseases arising from torpid bowels, is, to have a regu- 
lar hour to attend to them, and to be punctual to this hour, 
under all circumstances. We know that women labor 
under peculiar difficulties in complying with this 
injunction, but neither false modesty, nor any thing else, 



192 OF THE EXCRETIONS. 

should be allowed to conflict with a rule so vitally 
important to health. For health cannot be enjoyed 
without a regular evacuation of the bowels, and this 
regularity cannot be obtained, except through the 
influence of habit. When no habit of this kind is 
established, when the natural desire is unheeded, it 
passes off — the bowels become accustomed to the 
accumulation within them, their nervous sensibility 
is blunted ; they lose their tone from over-distention ; 
their peristaltic downward movement ceases ; and in 
short, habitual costiveness, with an innumerable host 
of maladies, is the result. In fact, there is scarcely a 
disease in the whole long and dark catalogue, that may 
not originate directly or indirectly from this source. 
Are we not right, then, in insisting that this thing 
should be attended to under all circumstances ? 

Means of Regulating the Bowels, &c. — In the 
regulation of the bowels, proper diet is no less import- 
ant than habitual attention to the calls of nature. 
The food should not be too concentrated, but a due 
relation between nutritiveness and bulk should be 
preserved. It is necessary to the action of the bowels 
that our food should consist of a considerable propor- 
tion of the coarser materials, so as to gently excite 
and distend them, and thus promote their downward 
movement. But the dietetic habits of a great many 
people, and particularly of women, are directly opposed 
to this plain and obvious necessity. Among many 
examples of this, we will only notice the extensive 
use of fine flour. This, from its glutinous nature, and 
from the absence of the bran, or husks of the wheat, 
is highly constipating; yet there are thousands of 



OF THE EXCRETIONS. 193 

women who live almost exclusively on biscuits made 
of fine — yea, of superfine flour ; and with these they 
drink a concentrated extract of green tea ! No wonder 
that such as these should suffer from costive bowels, 
nervousness, and a thousand and one other disorders 
which render life a burden. For the food is not suffi- 
ciently bulky to distend the stomach and bowels, and 
not coarse enough to excite them to action, and thus 
contraction ensues, while this difficulty is still farther 
increased by the astringent effect of the tea, and by its 
torpifying narcotic action on the brain and whole 
nervous system. Many other bad habits resulting in 
constipation, such as want of exercise, the abuse of 
purgatives, &c, might be noticed, but these will be 
reserved for future consideration ; we therefore con- 
clude with the following rules for the regulation of 
the excretions: — 

1st. Let the lungs have an abundance of 'pure air, to 
assist them in vitalizing the blood, 

2d. Let the skin be kept clean and soft by frequent 
bathing. 

3d. For the liver and the other excretory organs men- 
tioned, follow the rules on dress and diet already given. 

4th. Evacuate the bladder when this necessity is indi- 
cated by desire. 

5th. Establish a regular habit of attending to the 
bowels, and avoid concentrated food, and particularly fine 
flour: also eschew the habitual use of purgatives, and 
astringent drinks. 

17 N 



194 MENTAL HYGIENE. 

CHAPTEE XII. 
MENTAL HYGIENE, ETC. 

Connection between Mind and Body. — Though 
much has been written by poets, philosophers, and 
physicians, on the mysterious bond of union between 
mind and body, yet, even by these, the effects result- 
ing from this union are not fully appreciated ; while, 
by the great mass of people, those things are en- 
tirely overlooked. What is the body when com- 
pared with the soul ? Truly, it is a wonderful piece 
of machinery, worthy of the great Architect who 
fashioned it. But then it is only a frame- work of 
bones, filled in and covered with muscles and skin 
— a house in which we — the immortal Soul, and the 
vital animating Spieit — live. The eyes are the 
windows out of which we look ; the ear, nose, tongue, 
and skin are our intelligencers and sentinels placed 
on the outposts of our spiritual domain ; the muscles 
are our carriers ; and the nerves are our telegraphic 
messengers by which we communicate with the 
external world, and our own world within. The soul, 
then, with all its faculties and affections, is the life, 
the essence, the moving -power, and the governor of 
the body. Is it strange, then, that the physical frame 
should vibrate to every touch of the spiritual chords 
which move it ? Is it strange that the passions and 
emotions of the mind should powerfully influence the 
body ? And is it not passing strange that this mighty 
controlling power should be so much overlooked in 
our efforts to prevent and cure physical disease? 



MENTAL HYGIENE. 195 

Influence of the Mind in Woman. 

The controlling influence of the mind is a subject 
that should be studied by all, but it commends itself 
with peculiar force to woman : her physical organiza- 
tion is naturally more delicate than that of man, and 
this natural delicacy has been much increased by the 
enervating habits of civilized life — her feelings are 
naturally acute and impressible, and this inherent 
mental condition has been nursed into a morbid sen- 
sitiveness under the unnatural social influences by 
which she is surrounded. Hence her feelings are 
easily excited, and they act with terrible energy on 
her feeble and sensitive body, and the latter reacting 
on the former, such a commotion is often produced 
that the frail tabernacle in which she dwells is pros- 
trated and destroyed. Other considerations, involving 
the health and happiness of their posterity, might be 
adduced for the purpose of attracting the attention of 
women to this subject, but let this suffice for the pre- 
sent : with this single remark — Of all human beings, 
women are under the greatest, the most sacred, obli- 
gation to obey all the laws of health, and especially 
the laws of mental hygiene; the incentives to this are 
to be found in the love of life ; and in that deep, abid- 
ing, soul-absorbing maternal love, which is sweeter 
than life, and stronger than death. 

The Different Passions, and the manner in 
which they Act. — It would require a volume to pass 
in review all the mental faculties and moral feelings, 
and to show how they affect the health ; we shall 
therefore confine ourselves to the stronger passions, 



196 MENTAL HYGIENE. 

and more particularly those which are most likely to 
sway the breast of woman. The passions may be 
divided into two great classes — the elevating and the 
depressing. Among the former are love, veneration, 
faith, and hope. Envy, jealousy, fear, grief, remorse, 
and other dark, malevolent passions, belong to the 
latter class, 

The Ruling Passion. 

Love, in its various manifestations, is the ruling 
passion of the world, and its native home seems to be 
in the warm, tender heart of woman ; of whom it has 
been truly said, in contrast with man — 

" Man's love is of man's life a thing apart — 
'Tis -woman's whole existence." 

When this mighty passion is duly controlled ; when 
it is fixed on a worthy object ; when it finds exercise 
in that benevolence and philanthropy which prompts 
us to "do good to all as we have opportunity;" when 
it shows itself in veneration to the great Creator, and 
that religious devotion which produces obedience to 
his commandments — it is the most holy, inspiring, 
elevating, life-giving feeling that can possibly animate 
the human heart. But the highest and purest enjoy- 
ments that this earth offers to woman are found in her 
domestic and conjugal relations. Here that deep, un- 
told, and unfathomable love which lives alone in the 
heart of a mother, finds delightful and healthful em- 
ployment in nurturing and training her offspring: 
here, when the silken cord of love binds her willing 
heart to one who is worthy of the treasure committed 
to his keeping, she feels that this is 



MENTAL HYGIENE. 197 

"The best, the brightest boon the heart e'er knew — 
Of all life's sweets, the very sweetest yet !" 

But ah ! should " love's young dream" be blighted — 
should this love to hatred turn, should all her treasure 
on a die be thrown, and — lost ! who can tell the pangs 
and tortures to which she is exposed ? 

Dangers to which Women are Exposed. 

As society now exists, women, and especially the 
young, are peculiarly liable to the dangers at which 
we have hinted. Their young affections, like the ivy, 
naturally seek for some object around which they 
may twine ; and as these natural feelings are stimu- 
lated into a forced and precocious development, by 
reading works of fiction, attending balls, plays, &c, 
while the judgment and the higher reasoning faculties 
are neglected, there is very great danger that they will 
fix themselves on some unworthy object, thus bring- 
ing misery and ruin for life, should the misguided 
attachment unfortunately result in marriage. But, 
admitting the object to be worthy, young ladies are 
yet subject to another great danger — unrequited love. 
Society has decreed that a woman shall not tell her 
love, that she would disgrace her sex by giving any 
intimation of her feelings until she is wooed ; and thus 
is she compelled to hide within her breast a secret 
passion, to 

" Let concealment, like a worm i' th' bud, 
Feed on her damask cheek." 

A great pity it is that women should be subjected 
to such evils and disadvantages ; but as this state of 
things cannot well be remedied, young women should 



198 MENTAL HYGIENE. 

guard their hearts carefully against the entrance of a 
passion which may wreck their whole constitution, 
physical, mental, and moral, should it be unrecipro- 
cated, or placed on an unworthy object. 

Works of Fiction, Theatres, &c. 

Allusion has been made to works of fiction, theatres, 
balls, &c. ; but we cannot thus slightly pass these 
things without giving a solemn emphatic warning 
against them. 'Tis true that all fictitious reading is 
not injurious alike ; some imaginative works are 
founded in nature, are true to life, and they inculcate, 
in a beautiful and forcible manner, a sound moral. 
But while this is true of a comparatively small por- 
tion, the great mass give false and exaggerated views 
of life ; they cultivate the ideal at the expense of the 
actual ; they nurse the emotional to the injury of the 
intellectual ; and they cause a premature development 
of those feelings which should be repressed and con- 
trolled, until the higher mental faculties can keep 
them within the bounds of health and good morals. 
These remarks apply more particularly to the extra- 
vagant romances which compose the great mass of the 
" light literature" of the day. In these works, love 
at first sight, elopements, and all kinds of follies are 
displayed in a manner well calculated to mislead the 
young mind, and to destroy that mental and moral 
equilibrium which is absolutely essential to health 
and happiness. And often, too often, good and evil 
are confounded, virtue and chastity are slyly or openly 
ridiculed and reproached, vice and libertinism are 
gilded and rewarded, while purity and constancy are 



MENTAL HYGIENE. 199 

debased by making them yield to seductions which 
are represented as irresistible, and therefore justifiable. 
The above remarks apply, with slight modification, to 
the theatre and the ball-room, and therefore we need 
not enlarge on these. We can only say to our readers, 
as they value moral purity, as they value peace of 
mind, as they value health and happiness — shun all 
these things ! 

Consolations of Religion. 

And should misfortune still overtake them, through 
the operation of causes over which they have no con- 
trol, they will then have the sweet consciousness of 
having done all that they could; and then, with the 
unwavering faith and the undying hope which God 
gives to the trusting and the dutiful, they may enjoy 
that peace which " the world can neither give nor take 
away" — that calm sunshine — that sweet serenity of 
mind which no cloud can obscure, and no storm dis- 
turb. This, this is the antidote to envy, jealousy, 
fear, grief, remorse, and all those blighting withering 
passions which, like a simoom, dry the fountains of 
life, and breed disease and death. This will give 
healthful and vigorous exercise to all the higher 
passions of our nature, while the baser will be so 
controlled that all may act harmoniously for the 
accomplishment of the great purposes for which they 
were designed. This, in short, will give that self-con- 
trol which is absolutely essential to our mental, moral, 
and physical health — that self-control which is neces- 
sary to our own happiness, and the happiness of those 
with whom we stand connected — that self-control 



200 MENTAL HYGIENE. 

which is the highest duty of all, and the most sacred 
obligation of mothers, to whom are committed the spirit- 
ual and the physical, the temporal and eternal interests 
of their offspring. 

Influence of the depressing Passions. 

When we speak of the depressing passions as dry- 
ing up and poisoning the fountains of life, we deal in 
no idle fancies, for this is the actual effect of anger, 
grief, fear, &c. Violent anger or grief, or any strong 
depressing mental influence, will arrest the secretion 
of the gastric juice, and stop digestion: fear will relax 
the bowels, and grief and anger suppress the milk or 
render it poisonous to the infant. Numberless exam- 
ples of this might be adduced, but we only give one 
from Dr. Bedford of New York. A little child, 
afflicted with purging and convulsions, was brought 
to him, and on questioning the mother, he ascertained 
distinctly that the diseases of the child were caused 
by the mother's grief, originating in a report that her 
husband had been lost at sea. In view of these facts, 
which might be multiplied almost indefinitely, how 
cautious should nursing mothers be in the regulation 
and control of their passions ! There can be no doubt 
that thousands of children are annually hurried to the 
grave through thoughtless violations of the laws of 
health on the part of mothers. The influence of the 
passions over digestion might be illustrated by exam- 
ples equally striking ; so manifest is this, that it did 
not fail to attract the notice of the great poet of 
nature, Shakspeare : when Wolsey was detected in his 
intrigues, by certain papers which fell into the hands 



MENTAL HYGIENE. 201 

of the king, lie is represented as handing them to the 
guilty cardinal and addressing him thus — 

"Read over this; and, after, this; and then 
To breakfast, with what appetite you have." 

Elevating Passions— Amusements— Religion, &c. 

Such are some of the physical effects of the depress- 
ing passions. Faith (which has much more to do 
with the heart than the brain), hope, cheerfulness, and 
all their smiling train, promote digestion, favor the 
free circulation of the blood, diffuse and equalize the 
nervous influence, bring quiet refreshing sleep, im- 
prove the complexion, make all the secretions pure 
and healthy, and in short, build up, sustain, and pro- 
tect the whole mental and physical organization. 
These passions or feelings should be cultivated, then, 
as a duty — a duty which has the promise of the 
" life that now is, and of that which is to come" For 
the purpose of promoting cheerfulness, with all its 
attendant benefits, innocent amusements are commend- 
able and desirable. We have no sympathy with 
those who condemn all amusements as alike sinful, 
and who render religion repulsive by their austere 
manners, and long faces. Cheerfulness as naturally 
results from true religion as light from the sun ; and 
while this religion forbids foolish levity and sinful 
amusements, it gives that sweet serenity of mind 
which imparts the highest zest to the lawful enjoy- 
ments of life. Through false religious prejudices, 
but much more, perhaps, through the eager desire 
for wealth and fame, amusement and relaxation are 
too much neglected by the American people. This 



202 MENTAL HYGIENE. 

is more particularly true of men, with whom we have 
nothing to do at present, only so far as they stand 
connected with those for whom we write. If mothers 
and wives would secure their own happiness, then ; 
and that of their families, let them use their sweet 
persuasive powers to lure their husbands from the 
feverish haunts of business, to the quiet fire-side, 
where the cares of life may be forgotten in the relax- 
ations and enjoyments of the home circle : If they 
would enjoy health and happiness themselves — if they 
would make 

"Home the spot of earth supremely blest, 
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest," — 

let them shun the haunts of fashionable folly and 
dissipation — let them cultivate those domestic virtues, 
which are the source of the highest, the purest enjoy- 
ments this world can give. 



PART THIRD. 

DISEASES PECULIAR TO "WOMEN. 

THE PRIME REMEDIES IN DOMESTIC PRACTICE SHOULD BE — REST, 
ABSTINENCE, BATHING, SECLUSION, AND ALL THOSE AGENTS THAT 
ARE SO EFFECTUAL IN THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH. DRUGS 
SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY: AND THE MORE ACTIVE SHOULD BUT 
SELDOM BE ADMINISTERED WITHOUT THE ADVICE OP A PHYSICIAN. 



(203) 



CHAPTER I. 
OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

What is Disease ? — As manifest as are the effects 
of disease, it is yet very difficult to say what is its 
precise nature. The commonly received definition 
among regular physicians is that "disease is disor- 
dered action of any part of the machinery of the 
body;" which, being interpreted, amounts to this — 
disease is disease. This enlightens us considerably ! 

The Hydropaths, Eclectics, and Thomsonians seem 
to think that disease consists in "obstruction," or 
"inability of an organ to perform its functions." 
Some Hydropaths tell us that all diseases are cura- 
tive efforts of nature: — "Disease," says one, "is the 
effort of the system to expel impurities." The patent- 
medicine, Indian, Dutch, and other nameless tribes 
of doctors, generally locate these impurities in the 
blood, a theory well adapted to popular notions, and 
one highly conducive to the sale of sarsaparillas, 
"blood pills," "renovating resolvents," "life-giving 
elixirs," "phoenix bitters," "universal purifiers," &c, 
&c. Now, in our opinion, all these definitions have 
some truth in them, and yet they are all wrong except 
the first ; for the position of the regulars, that disease 
is disease, cannot be controverted. The idea that all 
18 (205) 



206 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

diseases are caused by impurities circulating through 
the blood, is one of the most mischievous errors that 
has ever cursed the world ; as just intimated, it is 
this that sustains that mania for swallowing all kinds 
of drugs and patent-medicines, which seems to be 
one of our national characteristics. Some diseases, 
we might say many, doubtless originate from these 
impurities, but the only safe and effectual plan is to 
guard against the accumulation of those impurities, by 
observing the laws of health. The fact is, all theorists 
err in trying to make all diseases essentially the 
same, when there is no such identity. Disease may 
be an effort to expel impurities, in some cases ; in 
other cases, it may be a remedial effort where no 
impurities are involved : it may consist in deficient 
action, excessive action, or entire want of action ; it is 
sometimes curative in its tendency, and often destruc- 
tive. 

Causes of Disease. — The causes of disease are 
divided into predisposing and exciting. The predis- 
posing cause is that which produces that peculiar 
condition of the system which renders it susceptible 
to disease. Persons may be exposed to precisely the 
same influences — some will contract disease, while 
others will escape entirely ; or all may be affected — 
some in one way, and some in another. Several may 
be exposed alike to cold, and one will have inflamma- 
tion of the lungs, another sore throat, another " cold 
in the head," another looseness of the bowels, another 
rheumatism or neuralgia, &c, &c. Now, the differ- 
ences in these cases arise from the peculiar predisposi- 
tions of each individual, one organ being weaker in 



OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 207 

one, and another, in another. The same cause, or set 
of causes, may be either predisposing or exciting, 
according to individual susceptibility. For instance, 
tobacco, in those accustomed to it, predisposes to dis- 
ease, by its action on the brain and nerves, while in 
those not habituated to it, the noxious weed produces 
the most violent symptoms of actual disease, such as 
sick stomach, vomiting, fluttering at the heart, faint- 
ing, and even death. 

Treatment op Diseases. — Two Principles. — The 
various sects that compose the medical world may be 
divided into two classes : — the leading principle of 
one is "that like cures like:" the other acts on the 
principle that "contraries cure contraries." To the 
first class belong the Homoeopaths, who contend that 
any remedy that will produce a certain set of symp- 
toms in a well person, will cure a disease with the 
same symptoms. They also act on the absurd assump- 
tion that the smaller the dose, the greater the effect. This 
system has the advantage of being the least dangerous 
of all, but it is so contrary to reason and common 
sense, that it could have originated only in a German 
brain. All the rest of the medical world may be 
considered as belonging to the contrary or Allopathic 
school. For, though the Hydropaths deny the "soft 
impeachment/' yet it is plain that they are governed 
by the Allopathic principle, that they so much abuse. 
For example, when a patient is too hot, they cool him 
down with water; when he is too cold, they warm 
him, by the reaction of cold water, or by the applica- 
tion of warm water ; if the excitement is too low, they 
stimulate with water ; if it is too great, they reduce 



208 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

with water ; if lie is weak, they brace him up with 
water; if he has too much fluid in his blood, they 
draw it off through his skin by means of wet-sheet, 
packs, &c. ; and if he has too little fluid, it is supplied 
through the stomach and skin. All this is exactly 
on the Allopathic principle, and it is reasonable and 
right. The inconsistency lies in loudly condemning 
and ridiculing a practice, and then following the same 
practice, in principle. But then they say these horrid 
Allopaths bleed, blister, and burn; but it must be 
borne in mind that these things are not principles, but 
measures, which are not an essential part of Allopathic 
practice, and may therefore be used or not, according 
to circumstances. This comparison has been insti- 
tuted, because a strong effort has been made to mis- 
lead the people, and prejudice them against a principle 
which is sanctioned by reason, experience, and com- 
mon sense; and with the single exception of the 
Homoeopaths, it governs and guides all medical prac- 
tice. The abuses of this principle recoil then on the 
heads of those who vent them ; and the term " Allo- 
path" belongs not more to regular physicians than 
others. 

The Domestic Treatment of Disease. — The only 
safe plan for domestic practice is to make the hygienic 
or preventive agents, and the simpler medicines, the 
principal means of cure. Should these fail (which 
they will seldom do when judiciously used), a skillful 
physician should be sent for. In all the medical 
works that have been written for physicians and 
people, a great error has been committed in failing 
entirely to notice these powerful and safe agents, or 



OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 209 

in giving them only a secondary place. In every 
work on the practice of medicine, and especially in 
every work on domestic practice, these agencies should 
have the very first place, and they should constitute 
the great staples of home treatment, to the exclusion of 
the stronger and more dangerous drugs that can be 
safely used only by those who have devoted a lifetime 
to the study of medicine. 

Abuse of Medicine. — The abuse of medicine in 
domestic practice is an enormous evil, and a prolific 
source of disease and death. Besides the patent nos- 
trums so greedily swallowed by our drug-loving and 
quack-ridden people, the strongest drugs are taken for 
every trivial and temporary derangement of health, of 
which most cases might be cured by a day's fast, by 
rest from labor, a bath, seclusion from society, or some 
other means equally safe. Many eat too much, know- 
ing that it will make them sick, and with the pre- 
determination to take medicine to remove the effects 
of their gluttony ; they gorge themselves to-day, and 
take salts or oil to-morrow ; they obstruct the liver by 
gross feeding, and then take calomel or some other 
mercurial ; they excite a cough by wilful exposure, 
and then take opium to relieve it. This is sinning 
against the body with malice aforethovglit, and such 
people cannot expect to enjoy health, unless God 
suspends the fixed and immutable laws instituted for 
our government as rational creatures. 

Medical Books for the People. — The drug- 
taking mania which may be set down among our 
national characteristics, is caused mainly by the free 
circulation of certain works on domestic medicine 
18* O 



210 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

among our people, and by the blood-purifying, liver- 
invigorating theories, and other like plausible hum- 
bugs, published in newspapers, by medical impostors. 
We do verily believe that most of the works on 
domestic medicine published in this country have done 
vastly more harm than good, by encouraging the 
extravagant and indiscriminate use of drugs among 
incompetent persons. In almost every household, we 
find certain very popular domestic medical works 
which prescribe calomel, opium, jalap, ipecac, tartar 
emetic, blisters, bleeding, and all such powerful and 
dangerous agents, on all occasions. Through such 
influences as these, infants are drugged, and well nigh 
purged to death, with vermifuges, whether they have 
worms or not; older children must have "spring 
physic" to remove or ward off imaginary diseases ; 
while all classes, ages, sexes, and conditions are dili- 
gently drugged, in season and out of season, with 
blood- purifiers, liver-medicines, pukes, purges, sweats, 
&c, &c. If, then, you value health and long life, read 
not the plausible and seductive theories manufactured 
for popular use and published in newspapers and medi- 
cal almanacs, neither swallow any of the unknown 
drugs advertised in them. Eschew in like manner, 
all works on domestic medicine that deal largely in 
the stronger drugs, calomel, opium, &c— that freely 
prescribe bleeding, emetics, and cathartics, and teach 
that every one may be his own physician. Sooner 
might every woman tune her own piano, or make her 
own watches! The only safe books for the people 
are such as prescribe the simpler medicines only, 
unless it be in some rare cases. 



OF DISEASE IN GENEEAL. 211 

Water as a Kemedy. — In the article on " Bath- 
ing," under the head " Manner in which water acts," 
the different effects of water, and more particularly of 
cold water, have, we trust, been sufficiently explained ; 
and we advise our readers to turn back and read 
carefully what is said under that head. Water is so 
often prescribed in the succeeding pages, that a word 
of explanation may be proper on this point. It is 
prescribed, then, because it has such a variety of 
effects according to the temperature, and the manner 
in which it is applied, that it really has a much wider 
range of application than any other remedy, there 
being but few diseases in which it may not be used 
in some form ; and while this is the case, there is no 
remedy of the same power that is anything like as safe. 
We would guard against the impression that water 
can do no harm, for all remedies that have sufficient 
power over the system to accomplish great good, are 
equally capable of doing harm when improperly used. 
Yet we feel no hesitation in saying that there is no 
drug that will at all compare with water when safety 
and efficacy are both considered. It is safer than 
strong drugs, from the fact that the principles on 
which it acts are plain and easily understood, while 
any ill effects are immediate and manifest. Persons 
of ordinary intelligence can see and understand the 
effects of water, but everything connected with drugs 
is involved in much mystery : all the stronger drugs 
are, therefore, dangerous weapons in the hands of the 
unskillful. Some of these, when used by a very 
prudent and skillful physician, ma} r possibly be better, 
in some cases, than water, but we repeat that, in home 



212 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

practice, there is nothing to equal the external and 
internal use of water, in safety, in efficacy, and in 
extent of applicability. We know that this is a 
" hard saying" with many, for some cannot believe 
that simple water can cure disease, while others are so 
under the influence of the prejudices of education, 
that they think it highly dangerous, and especially in 
the ailments of women. To such we can only say, try 
the remedy as prescribed, and you will be convinced 
of its advantages ; and should any one attempt to 
terrify you by depicting the dangers of water, they 
can be readily silenced by a comparison of the injuries 
from this source with those arising from the use of 
calomel and other things that are daily resorted to in 
domestic practice. Who can count the number of 
chronic diseases, and broken down constitutions from 
this source ! But we do not intend to resort to the 
common expedient of taking a hobby -horsical ride 
into popular favor on the much abused and quack- 
ridden Calomel. We believe that calomel is a good 
and useful, and in some cases an almost indispensable, 
remedy ; but calomel, and all such things, have their 
place ; and that is in the hands of a very cautious and 
skillful physician, who will not lightly resort to them, 
and who will closely watch their effects. Such things 
should be used very rarely in domestic practice, for 
they are far more dangerous, in the hands of the 
people, than water. In making these declarations, 
we know that we expose ourself to the charge of 
deserting the " old paths," and turning " water-cure ;" 
but this is not so, and never will be, for we oppose, and 
ever shall oppose, all exclusive one-idea systems; and 



OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 213 

the fear of any injury that fault -finders may inflict 
on us, shall not deter us from recommending a remedy 
that is calculated to do so much good with so little 
risk. And what if water has been abused by a set 
of run-mad exclusives, this is no reason why it should 
be rejected by regular physicians ; on the contrary, 
it becomes their duty to teach the proper use of this 
remedy, in conjunction with any others that may be 
safely resorted to, so as to counteract the errors and 
dangers of quackery. Every system has some good 
remedies, and physicians can best promote the interest 
of the people, and oppose quackery, by adopting such 
remedies regardless of the source from whence they 
come, remembering that the difference between the 
educated physician and the ignorant quack is not so 
much in the remedy used, as in the mode of using it. 
If physicians would act on this suggestion, it would 
be the most effectual mode of counteracting the dis- 
honest appeals of ignorant speculators in human 
misery, for their game is to make the people believe 
that they have some wonderful remedy that is either 
wholly unknown to the "faculty," or if known, is 
rejected on account of " old- school prejudices." Nine 
times out of ten there is not a word of truth in these 
declarations; but then, physicians take no pains to 
contradict them — the people believe them, and thus 
do these base harpies accomplish their ends. Our 
motto is, to oppose all exclusive systems of medicine, 
and to take the good wherever we find it, without 
regard to the prejudices of the ignorant, or the mis- 
representations of the interested. Were we to with- 
hold the truth for fear of the influence that this kind 



214 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

of opposition might have in diminishing our practice, 
we would not be worthy to come before the women 
of America as a teacher of health. 

Manner in which the Warm Bath acts. — The 
warm bath, and all other baths, below the actual or 
relative temperature of the body, act as sedatives ; 
that is, they draw off excitement and produce a sooth- 
ing effect. The tepid, warm, and indeed all minus 
baths (see "Different kinds of Baths"), are appropriate 
in fevers and all diseases of excitement where it is 
necessary to reduce excessive action. Many medical 
books teach very erroneous doctrines on this subject, 
and prescribe the warm bath as though it were a 
dangerous stimulant, instead of a direct sedative. 

Choosing a Physician. — Even in these brief 
general remarks on disease, it would be inexcusable 
to omit so important a matter as choosing a physician. 
A physician is often chosen for his easy manners, or 
because he is a "good (good for nothing, perhaps) 
clever fellow," social in his disposition, and tells a 
good story ; some physicians owe their success to their 
fluency and general knowledge ; one succeeds because 
he says nothing, but looks "wondrous wise;" another, 
because he spouts technicalities, that no one can 
understand; another, because he belongs to "our 
party" in religion or politics; and another still, 
because he has " good success ;" and we have even 
known doctors (we will not say physicians) to estab- 
lish a considerable reputation by proclaiming their 
ignorance and want of "college learning." The fact 
is, the passports to popular favor in Medicine are 
almost numberless, and a volume of anecdotes of the 



OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 215 

successful "tricks of the trade" might be readily com- 
piled. A London medical adventurer brought him- 
self into notice, by offering an extravagant reward for 
his lost dog ; another accomplished the same end by 
having his servant to go round to all the coffee-houses 

and inquire for the celebrated Dr. . The celebrated 

Eadcliff exhibited his shrewdness when he advised 
those who would devote a son to physic, to send him 
first to a fencing-master, or a dancing-school. Alas, 
that such things as these should secure the confidence 
of the sick ! When life and death hang on the medi- 
cal knowledge of the physician, what matters it about 
his graceful manners, his cleverness, his sociability ? 
of what avail is his polite literature, or his dark say- 
ings ? or who cares to what party or sect he belongs ? 
These things are all good enough in their place, but 
not at the bedside of the sick and the dying. Here a 
physician is needed, one who can interpret the symp- 
toms of the disease, trace them to their source, and 
apply the remedy. And to choose such an one — there 
lies the difficulty. General acquaintance with literature 
is a kind of presumptive evidence of medical know- 
ledge, but then many are incompetent to decide as to 
literary attainments; and it should be remembered 
that an extensive cultivation of letters is incompa- 
tible with minute and thorough medical investigations 
— that a physician may " know everything but medicine," 
as was once said of a distinguished London practi- 
tioner, while, on the other hand, another may know 
" nothing but medicine. 11 Success in practice is a very 
fallacious guide, for many get well in spite of the doctor, 
while others are not indebted to his remedies for 



216 OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 

their recovery. An ignoramus, by a fortunate com- 
bination of circumstances, through the influence of 
friends, by intrigue, &c, may establish a considerable 
reputation ; while a man, in every way his superior, 
who relies on his intrinsic merits, scorning the arts 
of quackery, may starve for want of patronage. 

If a candidate for medical honors has the best of 
all kinds of sense — good, hard, common, every-day sense 
— and if to this are added some general knowledge 
of literature, a thorough medical education, devoted 
attention to his patients, and studious habits, he may, 
as a general rule, be trusted. On the other hand, we 
should hesitate to commit our lives into the hands of 
one destitute of these characteristics — one who deals 
largely in high-sounding medical terms in promiscu- 
ous crowds, and who resorts to other quackish arts 
to captivate the populace. After all, this thing of 
choosing a physician, generally considered so easy, is 
one of the most important and difficult things in life. 
Dr. Hall says, in his late work " Health and Disease :" 
" Choose one who has been regularly educated to his 
profession, who has never changed his system of 
practice, and commands the respect of the community 
where he resides." But then, you may get hold of 
an iron-sided old fogy, who has not read anything 
new on medicine for twenty years, and who thinks 
that all true medical science was buried with Hippo- 
crates some five nundred years before Christ. As to 
the opinions of the community, it is needless to say 
more ; we have seen what reliance is to be placed in 
them. The best advice that we can give on this 
dimcult point is to choose a physician who exhibits a 
practical common sense turn of mind in the ordinary 



OF DISEASE IN GENERAL. 217 

affairs of life, who is attentive to his business, diligent 
in his studies, sober in his habits, and who humbly 
prays for the Divine blessing on the means that he may 
use. To such an one, pray that God may direct you 
in the dark hour of sickness and distress, at a time 
when life and death may hang on the wisdom of your 
choice; for much, very much, depends on the physi- 
cian. It is a great, and often a fatal error, to suppose 
that all physicians educated at the same school, or 
who practice the same system, are alike in their 
practice. In such a science as Medicine, where it is 
impossible to prescribe any fixed rules of treatment, 
everything, we might say, depends on the judgment 
of the physician. 

In addition to the qualifications mentioned, every 
physician who treats the diseases of women, should 
possess that refinement of manner, and that delicacy 
of feeling, which will secure the confidence and respect 
of his patients, and cause the most tender regard for 
the innate modesty of woman. The physician, in 
such cases, should not allow any mawkish sensibility 
to interfere with the necessary duties of his profession, 
but what is necessary, should be done as gently and 
as delicately . as possible ; and any man who will 
approach a woman rudely, or who will prate about 
the infirmities or the peculiar diseases of a female 
patient, is a burning reproach to an honorable pro- 
fession, and unworthy that confidence and respect to 
which a skillful and honorable physician is so richly 
entitled : — 

"A wise physician, skilled our wounds to heal, 
Is more than armies to the public weal." 
19 



218 DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 

CHAPTEK II. 

DISEASES OF EXTEKNAL GENITALS. 

Inflammation defined, &o. — The main features 
of inflammation are an undue rush of blood to a part, 
and distension of the blood-vessels. Its symptoms are 
pain, heat, redness, and swelling. Its principal termi- 
nations are resolution, or healing; suppuration, or the 
formation of matter ; ulceration, or loss of substance ; 
effusion of water, &c. ; and mortification, or death of 
the part affected. This last termination is compara- 
tively rare, and is not near so frequent as people 
generally suppose. Writers make many divisions of 
inflammation, but the only one that we shall notice 
in this general account is the division into acute and 
chronic. These terms have reference to the degree, 
and not to the kind of inflammation. An acute 
inflammation is an active violent affection, while a 
chronic inflammation is a slower and less violent dis- 
ease. The domestic treatment of inflammation should 
consist, principally, in rest, low diet, avoidance of all 
excitement, mental and bodily, the general and local 
application of water of different temperatures, and 
the occasional use of mild purgatives. These means, 
which will be more particularly explained hereafter, 
will generally be successful, without a resort to the 
lancet and some other remedies, which should not 
often be used except by a physician. And as inflam- 
mation is often a dangerous and destructive process, 
the means of combating it should be well understood. 



DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 219 

Inflammation of the Privates.* 

Under this head, we will treat first of inflammation 
of the skin covering the lips of the privates, and then, 
of inflammation of the mucous membrane lining these 
parts. The external inflammation generally involves 
the skin and the cellular tissue beneath. 

Symptoms. — These are heat, swelling, redness, and 
a throbbing pain extending to the groin, which some- 
times swells and becomes very painful. The pain is 
much increased by motion, by the upright position, 
and by pressure. 

Causes. — Blows, falls, or violence of any kind. 
It occurs most commonly during pregnancy, and after 
delivery, from pressure, &c. 

Treatment. — Eest, and cold applications in the 
form of cloths wet in cold water, and frequently 
changed. Should matter form, which may generally 
be known by one point becoming softer than another, 
it should be discharged by making an opening with a 
lancet. But should there be any doubt as to the 
presence of matter, the opening had better not be 
made without the advice of a physician, as the bowels 
sometimes find their way down into this unusual 
position. But this is rare, and a resort to the lancet 
will seldom be necessary, if the proper treatment be 
used early and diligently. Should matter gather, 
then substitute for the cold cloths, warm ones, or a 
warm, soft corn mush poultice, retained by a bandage 
around the body and between the thighs. 

* The term " Privates" is intended to embrace the greater and lesser 
lips, and the clitoris; all of which have been described iu another place. 



220 DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 

Inflammation of the Mucous Membrane of the 
External Privates. 

This disease affects both women and little children, 
but as the general treatment is the same, no distinc- 
tion will be made on this account. It has sometimes 
prevailed among girls as an epidemic, and has been 
very fatal. 

Causes. — These are most commonly cold, want of 
cleanliness, and sympathetic excitement from irritation 
of the rectum or straight gut. 

Symptoms. — Itching, attended with a disagreeable 
smarting feeling, especially in passing water; and 
after awhile, a whitish or yellowish, and sometimes 
acrid discharge. 

Treatment. — Cleanliness is the great secret in 
this disease. In the first stage, when the excitement 
is great, the parts should be frequently bathed in 
warm water ; and a thorough washing should never 
be neglected after each evacuation of the bladder. 
When the inflammation is sufficiently subdued to 
bear the application of cold water, this should be 
substituted for the warm. And should the inflamma- 
tion extend inwards, injections into the vagina should 
be used. These remedies, combined with rest and 
avoidance of all exciting causes, will generally be suffi- 
cient ; but should they fail, the following may be used 
externally ; and by injection, if necessary. Take 
sugar of lead a teaspoonful, put it into a half pint of 
water, and then add a tablespoonful of laudanum. Use 
warm or cold, according to the feelings. Should the 
disease become chronic and obstinate, inject the follow- 
ing : Nitrate of silver, ten grains ; water, one ounce. 



DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 221 

Itching of the Privates. 

This disorder is very similar to the one last 
described, and is really a symptom rather than a 
distinct disease; but it is a symptom of sufficient 
importance to merit a separate consideration. 

Symptoms. — Intolerable itching, attended with a 
burning, smarting, and disagreeable sore feeling. 
Through sympathy, and through the desire to rub 
the parts, which is almost irresistible, the sexual feel- 
ing is sometimes so much excited as to render seclu- 
sion necessary, while the unfortunate sufferer is tor- 
mented in a way that is revolting to modesty. 

Causes. — The principal of these are pregnancy, 
want of cleanliness, and diseases of the womb. 

Treatment. — Follow pretty much the course direct- 
ed in the preceding affection. If the irritation is 
great, warm water should be used at first, and con- 
tinued, if it gives more relief than cold water, which 
will generally be the case. A solution of borax has 
been recommended by the late distinguished Dr. 
Dewees ; but water will generally be sufficient, unless 
the disorder is caused by disease of the womb or 
rectum. In these cases, the treatment must have 
reference mostly to the original disease, while the 
washing and other remedies prescribed may still be 
used as palliatives. The desire to scratch should be 
resisted if possible ; the diet should be of the lightest 
kind, to the exclusion of all meats, tea, and coffee ; all 
stimulating drinks should be avoided ; and also every- 
thing calculated to favor the train of ideas excited by 
the disease. Should these remedies fail, it is highly 
19* 



222 DISEASES OF EXTERNAL GENITALS. 

probable that the disorder is sympathetic of some 
disease of the womb or rectum, and a physician should 
be consulted. 

Tumors of the External Privates. 

Any kind of swelling is sometimes called a tumor, 
but this term is most commonly applied to an indo- 
lent painless swelling or "lump" enveloped in a thin 
membrane or cyst. Wens are a familiar example of 
this kind of tumor. Besides these, the privates are 
sometimes affected with oozing and warty tumors ; 
and a very painful little teat occasionally arises at the 
mouth of the opening leading from the bladder. ISone 
of these affections can be managed in domestic prac- 
tice, but much pain may be avoided by learning to 
recognise the vascular tumor at the orifice of the urethra. 

Symptoms. — Severe and constant pain at the exter- 
nal privates, increased to agony on motion or contact ; 
a sense of weight and bearing down ; a frequent desire 
to evacuate the bladder, and scalding. On a close 
examination, a small tumor, the size of a pea, or 
larger, may be seen at the orifice of the urethra, or 
opening from the bladder. 

Treatment.— For this, and all the other tumors, 
send for a physician or surgeon. 

Deformities of the Privates. 

Everything under this head of course requires the 
attention of a physician ; but some of the principal 
malformations will be noticed, so that unnecessary 
anxiety of mind may be prevented in some cases, 
while life may be saved in others, by the knowledge 
thus communicated. 



DISOKDEKS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 223 

Union of the Lips of the Pkivates — Enlakged 
Clitoris, &c. — The lips of the privates may be united 
only in part, or throughout their whole length. This 
union may exist in girls at birth, or it may occur in 
older persons from inflammation, &c. "When the 
union is complete, the flow of urine is prevented, and 
the assistance of a physician should be obtained with- 
out delay. Should the flow of urine not be inter- 
rupted, difficulty may still arise when the period for 
menstruation arrives. 

Excessive development of the nymphse or internal lips 
of the privates, is quite common in some countries, 
but as it is unattended with danger, it is only men- 
tioned to remove any fears that may be excited by its 
presence. Enlargement of the clitoris is very rare, and 
need not detain us. 



CHAPTER III. 

FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND 
WOMB. 

All diseases may be divided into functional and 
organic. Functional diseases are those that give rise 
to various disturbances in the system, but which 
produce no manifest change in the structure of the 
parts affected. Organic diseases, on the contrary, are 
attended by various changes of structure, which will 
be noticed in another chapter. 



224 DISOEDEES OF THE VAGINA AND W03IB. 



Leucorrhooea or "Whites." 

Natuee of the Disease. — By some writers whites 
is attributed to debility and relaxation of the mucous 
membrane of the vagina, and sometimes to a similar 
condition of the mucous membrane of the womb. But 
while this may be true in some cases, there can be no 
doubt that the great majority of cases of this disease 
originate from inflammation or irritation of the mu- 
cous membrane lining the vagina ; while some cases 
have their origin in an inflammation of the mucous 
membrane lining the womb. So that this is really 
more an organic than a functional disease. This inflam- 
mation of the mucous membrane of the vagina and 
womb may be either acute or chronic; but the latter 
form is much the most common. 

Causes. — These will be carefully considered, because 
a knowledge of the causes will suggest the means of 
•prevention and cure. Among the numerous causes 
mentioned by writers, we only enumerate — a seden- 
tary life, frequent child-bearing, reading works calcu- 
lated to act on the sexual feelings, too early marriages, 
solitary pleasures, foot-stoves, stimulating food and 
drinks, want of cleanliness, exposure to cold, mental 
emotion, and sympathy with the rectum. Some of 
these causes merit a more particular consideration. 

Women are most subject to this disease during 
their menstrual life, and there can be no doubt that 
the duties imposed on them as wives and mothers 
have something to do with its prevalence at this 
period. But we are equally confident, that the expo- 
sures alluded to would not give rise to this very com- 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 225 

mon disorder, if women would live right and avoid 
the other causes mentioned. If women would avoid 
whites, they must abandon their present sedentary 
habits, and take exercise in the open air ; they must 
pay more attention to bathing and cleanliness ; they 
must lay aside those works, and shun those places of 
amusement, which tend to excite the sexual organs ; 
they must discontinue the excessive use of highly 
stimulating food and drinks, and especially tea and 
coffee; and, in short, they must remodel all their 
habits. But some may be ready to say: "I would 
rather have the disease than make all these sacrifices." 
But, before you make this decision, hear the symptoms 
of leucorrhcea, and see to what evils you are exposing 
yourself. 

Symptoms. — These may be divided into local and 
general. In the early stages, should the inflammation 
be of an acute or subacute character, there will be 
heat, soreness, itching, and burning about the privates 
and vagina, with a feeling as if the parts were swol- 
len. With these symptoms there is not unfrequently 
pain in the back, a dragging sensation in the lower 
part of the belly, and in the groins and thighs. The 
discharge is at first small in quantity, thin, and of a 
whitish color, but it gradually becomes more profuse, 
thicker, and assumes a yellowish or greenish hue. 
But generally these earlier and more acute symptoms 
are not present, and the disorder is marked, more by 
its effects on the constitution, than by great pain and 
uneasiness in the parts affected. The discharge is 
sometimes sufficiently acrid to irritate the thighs and 
other parts with which it comes in contact, causing in- 

P 



226 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

flammation of the skin. And there are cases where a 
leucorrheal discharge will give rise to symptoms in 
husbands, that are calculated to excite the most pain- 
ful suspicions involving the moral character of wives. 
And as no false delicacy should restrain us from dis- 
closing a fact so important to the peace and happiness 
of families, we will be excused for stating in plainer 
terms, that husbands, by contact with their wives 
who have whites, may contract a disease, which may 
readily be mistaken for that foul and disgusting dis- 
order arising from impure sexual intercourse. When 
the inflammatory symptoms above mentioned have 
continued an uncertain length of time ; or when the 
disease has gradually undermined the constitution, 
without any prominent local symptoms ; we have the 
following train of general and sympathetic disorders 
resulting from this apparently trivial whitish dis- 
charge, which has become so common in civilized life, 
that women consider it as natural to them, and not an 
evidence of disease originating in bad habits. Patients 
afflicted with chronic whites, besides pains in the 
back, and lower part of the abdomen, and in various 
parts of the body, suffer from depraved appetite, 
from sour stomach, from "stinking belch," headache, 
hiccough ; and in short the thousand and one symp- 
toms of dyspepsia. They are sensitive to cold, 
especially about the feet, while the head is unusually 
hot ; they are troubled with palpitation of the heart 
and fainting fits, with pains in the breast, &c. ; " the 
face becomes pale, the eyes hollow, and they weep 
without cause; they become careless, impatient, and 
feel a sort of languor and dejection, a sensation of 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 227 

strangling or choking, and an involuntary sadness; 
they are apathetic, melancholy, hypochondriacal ; in 
fine they never exhibit the happy physiognomy 
characteristic of the sex, and are often tormented by 
erotic desires, which drive them into vicious habits, 
and at the same time augment their languor and 
exhaustion." Colombat, from whom the above extract 
is taken, thus graphically concludes his description 
of the constitutional effects of whites. "When the 
discharge is constant, profuse, and of long standing, 
exhaustion and degradation of the constitution are 
soon found, &c. — The skin now becomes more and 
more discolored, the emaciation increases, the flesh 
becomes loose, the breasts are soft, the pulse small 
and frequent, and the breath fetid; the eyelids become 
bloated, the legs are always cold, and the whole body 
sometimes becomes oedematous (dropsical). The patient 
complains of almost continual colic, and of pains along 
the vertebral column (back-bone), in the loins, hips, 
and hypogastric region (lower abdomen). She is 
tormented with constant thirst; the appetite is lost; 
she suffers from habitual pain in the stomach, and 
from obstinate constipation ; she is subject to nausea 
(sick stomach), eructations (belchings), and acid vomit- 
ing; the urine is turbid, flocculent, and in small 
quantity. When leucorrhcea reaches this degree of 
severity, the patient acquires a disgust and indiffer- 
ence for everything ; her faculties become enfeebled ; 
she is unfitted for reproduction, as much by her indif- 
ference as by the disgust which she inspires : finally, 
moral debility and settled despair, together with hec- 



228 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

tic fever, exhaust the few remains of strength, after 
having destroyed all that lends a charm to life." 

To this dark catalogue of evils may be added "fall- 
ing of the womb," which frequently results from the 
relaxation produced by whites ; and so great is this 
relaxation, in some cases, that the womb protrudes 
between the thighs, and becomes sore and ulcerated 
from the friction of the clothes, &c. Such is a picture 
of the evils to which women are exposed through the 
manifold violations of the laws of health, at which 
we have hinted. 

And surely if such a picture as this, the originals 
of which may be seen all over the land, will not- 
prompt women to forsake the ways of folly, the most 
eloquent appeal that we could make would fail to 
affect them. 

Treatment. — By obedience to the laws of health, 
by abandoning the bad habits mentioned in the list 
of causes, and by strict attention to cleanliness, whites 
can almost invariably be prevented. And when not 
caused by some organic or structural disease of the 
womb, a cure may generally be effected by persever- 
ance in the above course and by the use of means 
now to be mentioned. A great variety of remedies 
have been recommended by physicians for this dis- 
order, but we have found nothing so effectual as the 
simple plan now to be described. In the early stage 
of the disease, should there be heat, pain, and other 
symptoms of local inflammation, inject tepid water 
into the vagina five or six times a day, and continue 
to throw up the water each time until it comes away 
perfectly clear. This operation is to be performed 



DISOEDEES OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 229 

with a common pewter or glass womb syringe while 
sitting over a tub or some other suitable vessel. 
When the excitement about the vagina and privates 
is subdued by these means, then substitute cold water 
for the warm, and use it in the same way. These 
cold injections, and the other means now about to be 
prescribed, may be used from the very beginning, if 
the disease has assumed a chronic form, and the local 
symptoms of acute inflammation are absent. In such 
cases, in addition to the injections, use a cold hip-bath, 
by sitting in water deep enough to come well up over 
the hips. This should be repeated two or three times 
a day, and the baths should be from three to five 
minutes long, but not longer than five minutes. Each 
bath should be followed by active friction or rubbing 
on the back, hips, and lower part of the abdomen, with 
a coarse towel, flesh brush, or piece of grass cloth. 
The skin must be rubbed each time as much as it will 
bear, so as to excite it and thus draw off from the 
diseased parts. These cold applications are to be dis- 
continued if the "courses" should make their appear- 
ance, but pregnancy will not interfere. In addition to 
this local treatment, the whole skin should be kept in 
lively action by a general bath every day or every 
other day, according to circumstances. If the patient 
is very weak or unaccustomed to bathing, the body 
should at first be sponged or washed with tepid or 
lukewarm water, and the water should be used a little 
colder each time, until it is quite cold. After washing 
all over in this manner until the system reacts well — 
which may be known by the agreeable glow and the 
feeling of in vigo ration after each bath — the cold 
20 



230 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

shower bath may then be used with much benefit.* 
Each bath should be followed by a good dry rubbing, 
and by exercise, according to the strength. Exercise 
before the bath will also be very beneficial, provided 
it is not carried sufficiently far to cause fatigue. f The 
diet should be nourishing, but digestible, and every- 
thing that disorders the stomach should be left off. 
If the bowels be costive, the diet should consist of 
corn bread, corn grits, unbolted flour, wheat grits, 
sweet potatoes, with a liberal proportion of good ripe 
fruits, either fresh, or dried and stewed. Should any- 
thing else be necessary to regulate the bowels, have a 
set time to attend to this matter, and inject the bowel 
with a pint of cold water, just before the time for each 
evacuation. 

The sleeping should be done on mattresses. Strict 
attention should be paid to ventilation, so as to have 
an abundance of pure fresh air, day and night. 

The mind has its influence in this disease, as in all 
others. Colombat tells us that a lady, on seeing an 
only daughter about to be torn from her by a fever, 
"was suddenly inundated with a leucorrhceal dis- 
charge." The same effect resulted in a young girl 
who saw her lover killed. These cases teach us that 
all violent mental emotions, and especially those of a 
depressing nature, should, as far as possible, be 
avoided. The remedies above prescribed will be suf- 
ficient for most cases of whites, and for domestic use 
we will only recommend, in addition, simple tonics, 

* If there should be anything about the patient to render the propriety 
of the cold bath doubtful, consult a physician. 
f See chapter on " Bathing." 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 231 

in some cases. Of these, the best is the muriated 
tincture of iron, in doses of from ten to thirty drops, 
three times a day. This should be added to half a 
glass of water, and taken through a quill, washing 
out the mouth well after each dose. The feet should 
be kept warm, but any excess of clothing about the 
hips should be avoided ; for there can be no doubt 
that the custom of wearing so many underskirts has 
much to do with the prevalence of leucorrhcea and 
falling of the womb. 

Absence and Suppression of the Courses. 

These menstrual disorders are included, in medical 
books, under the head of Amenorrhea. 

Absent menstruation is where the menses have never 
made their appearance. It has been seen that the 
time at which the monthly discharge appears in 
women varies according to climate, habits, &c. A 
case has been related where a girl menstruated at the 
age of ten years ; and when twelve years and a half 
old, she was the mother of a child ! But this is a 
very unusual case, and the period at which menstru- 
ation should occur in this climate may be set down at 
from fifteen to eighteen years — fifteen in the Southern 
States, and a little later in the Northern. It should 
always be borne in mind, however, that there is no 
fixed and definite time for the appearance of this dis- 
charge, and that the above are given only as general 
rules. 

Causes. — Absence of the menses may originate 
from absence of the ovaries or womb, in which case, 
of course, there will be no effort at menstruation. In 



232 DISOKDEKS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

such cases as these, the sexual characteristics of 
women are wanting — the breasts are small and flabby, 
the body not so full and beautifully rounded ; and not 
unfrequently there is a slight beard on the upper lip. 
In other cases, the ovaries and womb may be pre- 
sent, and the secretion may take place, but the dis- 
charge may be prevented by closure of the mouth of 
the womb, by closure or absence of the vagina, &c. 
Such cases as these will give rise to violent symptoms, 
from distension, and will require the attention of a 
physician or surgeon. 

Simple Absence of the Menses. 

This term is intended to embrace those cases in 
which the courses do not appear at the proper time, 
and in which the delay is not caused by any of the 
malformations above mentioned. 

Causes. — These, in general terms, are debility and 
congestion, or irregular distribution of blood. And 
these conditions are the result of sedentary habits, 
indolence, want of exercise, and luxurious living, 
among the higher classes ; and among the lower, the 
same results are produced by excessive toil, bad air, 
insufficient food, &c. 

Symptoms. — In these cases, there may be an effort 
at menstruation every month, or there may be nothing 
of this kind. The menstrual effort will be marked 
by the following symptoms : shiverings, pain in the 
small of the back and the lower part of the abdomen, 
aching down the thighs, with a feeling of weight and 
fullness in the womb, privates, &c. With these local 
symptoms there may be pain and throbbing in the 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 233 

head, pain in the side, stomach, and bowels, a choking 
sensation in the throat, nervousness, a feeling of great 
weakness, difficulty of breathing, &c, &c. 

Treatment. — When there is no attempt at men- 
struation, and the usual signs of development, such 
as enlargement of the breasts, &c, are absent, nothing 
should be done with the view of exciting the womb 
to action. And in fact, the domestic treatment of all 
cases of absent menstruation, should be confined 
almost exclusively to the improvement of the general 
health. Nature, when she has a fair chance, is fully 
competent for her own work, without any artificial 
aid from tl forcing" medicines ; and these are generally 
ineffectual, and often dangerous. If the general 
health is pretty good, it is better to wait and see what 
Nature will do for herself. If there is general debility 
and congestion, these may be removed by pure air, 
exercise, bathing, nourishing diet, &c. 

Pure air has already been so much insisted on that 
it is unnecessary to say more in this place — only that 
it is indispensable. The exercise should be of such a 
nature as to arouse and invigorate the whole system, 
and the womb in particular. 

For the accomplishment of these ends, horseback 
exercise is entitled to the first consideration, and if 
the horse trots a little rough, so much the better. 
The bathing should be conducted on the same general 
plan recommended in leucorrhoea. As soon as the 
S3 r stem can bear the shock and react readity, the cold 
shower-bath should be used every morning, followed 
by exercise, rubbing, &c, as already prescribed. In 
addition to this general bath, a hot hip-bath should 
20* 



234 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

be used every month, commencing three or four days 
before the periodical effort. This should be used at 
night, and should be continued about half an hour 
each time, keeping the water as hot as it can be borne, 
by adding fresh supplies. If there is no effort at 
menstruation, or nothing to fix the time when it would 
appear, it is better to rely on the general treatment ; 
but still, an occasional hot hip-bath will not be likely 
to do harm. The bowels should be regulated by the 
diet prescribed in whites, and by warm injections. 
The clothing should be sufficiently warm and loose ; 
and particular attention should be paid to keeping 
the feet warm. Cheerfulness should be cultivated by 
innocent amusements, and useful and agreeable occu- 
pations, and all depressing mental influences should 
be carefully guarded against. A celebrated writer 
recommends culture of the fine arts, the frequenting 
of balls, theatres, crowded assemblies ; and even the 
reading of certain imaginative works, to those who 
have arrived at the marriageable age, and who are 
cold, apathetic, and indifferent ; but this is a danger- 
ous prescription ; and cheerfulness is much better 
promoted by means less likely to injure the health 
and morals. The above plan is more particularly 
adapted to the intervals between the menstrual periods. 
Should there be symptoms of excitement at the 
monthly period, these should be met by a very low 
diet ; or even total abstinence, and rest. 

The diet should consist of corn batter-cakes, rice, 
milk, mush, &c. ; and the patient should repose on a 
sofa or mattress until the pain, &c, subside. Should 
these means fail to procure relief, cloths wrung out 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 235 

of hot water should be bound to the back and abdo- 
men, and a warm wet-sheet pack, or warm bath, 
should be resorted to, and repeated according to 
circumstances. The " wet bandage" should be pre- 
pared by folding a large towel, or small sheet, three or 
four double ; and it should then be applied as hot as it 
can be borne, and bound closely to the body by a 
bandage over it. The " wet-sheet pack" is used thus : 
— Take two or three blankets, large enough to cover 
the body from the chin to the feet, spread them on 
the bed, and then over them spread the sheet wrung 
out of hot water ; get into this as soon as possible, 
and then have it tucked closely around the body; 
and, lastly, pack the blankets around in the same 
manner. If the excitement is very high, the cold 
wet sheet may be safely used, but as a general rule 
the warm sheet is preferable. Each pack may be used 
from a half hour to an hour and a half. 

Medicines. — An almost endless list of remedies 
are prescribed in medical books, but all writers very 
properly place their reliance more in means calculated 
to restore the general health than in forcing drugs 
and specifics. The hygienic agents are generally all- 
sufficient, and those above mentioned, together with 
some of the simpler tonics, are the only remedies 
admissible in home practice. Of the tonics, iron is the 
best ; and of the various preparations of iron, perhaps 
none are better than simple iron filings, anvil dust, car- 
bonate of iron, and Griffith's Myrrh Mixture. Of the 
first three, as much as will lie on the point of a small 
case-knife may be taken, in syrup, three times a day. 



236 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

Griffith's Myrrh Mixture. 

Take myrrh and carbonate of potash, of each 160 
grains; sulphate of iron 50 grains; water one pint. 
Mix and stop closely. Dose from one to two table- 
spOonfuls three times a day. 

Purgatives, and particularly aloes, are much pre- 
scribed in menstrual disorders, but it is generally 
better to dispense with these in domestic practice; 
and the same may be said of wines, spirits, bitters, 
&c. The best of all tonics are air, exercise, nourish- 
ing food, and cold bathing ; and the best of all laxa- 
tives are injections, and a properly regulated diet. 

Among the medicines, we should not have omitted 
"steel dust." This is a most excellent article, and is 
made by melting sulphur on red-hot steel, letting the 
globules fall into water. It is then to be powdered 
in a mortar, and mixed with an equal part of pow- 
dered ginger. The dose of this is a pill the size of a 
pea, three times a day. Should it cause sick stomach, 
or act too much on the bowels, the dose should be 
reduced ; or it should be taken only twice a day. 

Absence of the Menses with Leucorrhcea. 

In this form there is a periodical effort at menstrua- 
tion, attended with pain in the back and abdomen, 
weight, fullness, &c. ; but the discharge is white instead 
of red. Sometimes this discharge is profuse for a few 
days, and then diminishes in quantity ; and in other 
cases it ceases entirely; but the former is most 
common. 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 237 

Treatment. — All the means just advised for the 
restoration of the general health should be assidu- 
ously used. 

Suppression or Stoppage of the Menses. 

When menstruation has been established, it may 
be suddenly arrested, constituting acute suppression, 
or the suppression may be gradual and chronic. The 
causes of acute suppression are exposure to cold, 
mental shock, the supervention of disease, as fever, 
&c, &o. The symptoms of suppression are sometimes 
quite violent, and sometimes but little disturbance 
ensues. In persons of a full habit, fever, headache, 
thirst, and sick stomach not unfrequently arise ; and 
the patient may even be attacked with acute inflam- 
mation of the womb, or some of the vital organs. 
Dr. Churchill says, "the patient is very liable to 
attacks of fainting and hysteric paroxysms." 

Treatment. — An attempt to recall the discharge 
should be made by the use of hot hip and foot baths, 
followed by warm cloths to the abdomen, as before 
directed. Should these fail, and should the general 
excitement continue, it should be subdued by the 
warm bath, the warm wet sheet, sponging with cool 
or tepid water, according to the degree of excitement ; 
by cooling drinks, low diet, and rest. At the approach 
of the next period the hot hip-bath should be used as 
prescribed in treating of absence of the menses, and 
everything calculated to disturb the mental or bodily 
equilibrium should be carefully avoided. 

Chronic Suppression, &c. — This may result from 
an acute attack, or it may arise from delicate health, 



233 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB* 

or some disease of the vital organs, as the lungs, 
stomach, &c. 

Treatment. — This should be conducted on the 
plan recommended in absence of the menses; and 
should there be cough or other symptoms of serious 
disease, a physician should be consulted; for not 
unfrequently the suppression is the effect of some 
other disease, and of course cannot be relieved until 
the original disease is removed. It is hardly neces- 
sary to add that there is a natural stoppage of the 
courses during pregnancy and suckling. 

Irregular Menstruation. — The menses, without 
being entirely suppressed, may be irregular in time, 
in quality, or quantity. These irregularities are caused 
by some derangement of the general health, and are 
to be treated very much on the plan prescribed in 
absence of the menses. 

Vicarious Menstruation. — In these cases there is 
a discharge of blood from the nose, lungs, stomach, 
bladder, nipples, or some other part of the body, which 
seems to take the place of the proper menstrual secre- 
tion. The treatment must be directed to the resto- 
ration of the functions of the womb, for which see 
"Absence and Suppression."' Should there be bleed- 
ing from the lungs, stomach, or any vital organ, a 
physician should be sent for ; but hot hip and foot 
baths, cold drinks, and rest will generally be sufficient. 

Painful Menstruation. 
In this form of menstrual disorder the discharge is 
generally slight, and attended with violent pain. This 
is one of the most obstinate and distressing affections 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 239 

to wliicli women are subject, and it sometimes embit- 
ters their whole menstrual life. 

Causes. — This disease consists in extreme sensibi- 
lity of the nerves of the womb ; in contraction of the 
neck of the womb ; or in inflammation and congestion 
of that organ. The exciting causes are cold during 
menstruation or after delivery. And there can be no 
doubt that the enervation and extreme excitability 
caused by the luxurious indulgences of civilized life, 
and especially among the higher classes, strongly pre- 
dispose to this disease. 

Symptoms. — These are, more or less pain in the 
back and lower part of the abdomen, and the expul- 
sion of clots of blood ; and sometimes a membranous 
concretion is thrown off, either entire or in shreds. 
The pain extends around the lower part of the abdo- 
men, and down the thighs, and not unfrequently it is 
attended with violent bearing-down efforts like labor- 
pains. These pains, and the expulsion of a mem- 
brane, might be readily mistaken for a miscarriage. 
These local symptoms are sometimes accompanied by 
fever, headache, hot skin, various nervous and hyste- 
rical disorders, &c. The breasts, according to Dr. 
Dewees, sometimes swell and become tender. 

Treatment. — During the attack, apply hot cloths to 
the back and abdomen, use hot hip-baths, hot foot- 
baths ; and if these fail to give relief, a general warm 
bath, or warm wet-sheet pack, will scarcely fail to 
mitigate the pain. These baths should be used for a 
considerable time, and repeated on a return of pain. 
The sheet-bath is the best, from the fact that the 
patient may remain at perfect ease while in it ; and if 



240 DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

no disagreeable symptoms of heat or oppression arise, 
it may be continued as long as two hours at a time. 
When the discharge is scant, as it generally is, the 
warm hip-bath should be used every night, beginning 
three or four days before the menstrual period. 

During the interval between the menstrual periods, 
all the means already prescribed for the restoration of 
the general health should be used. (See " Retention 
and Suppression.") 

Medicines. — Opium is the principal reliance for 
allaying the pain of difficult menstruation, but so po- 
tent a remedy should seldom be used in domestic 
practice. We have found the following powder to be 
very good, and it has the advantage of being much 
more safe than opium : — 

Take camphor, \ drachm; saltpetre, 1 drachm. 
Powder — mix, and divide into six powders. One 
every hour, in syrup or gum-water. 

Excessive Flow of the Menses. 

As there is no kind of uniformity in the quantity 
of menstrual fluid discharged by different women, 
menstruation can only be called excessive when it is 
so profuse as to affect the health. Dr. Meigs says : 
"I have known a girl of fifteen to use sixty napkins, 
soaked full, for each menstruation, without appearing 
to be rendered unwell by the loss." Every woman, 
then, obeys a law of her own constitution, in this 
particular, and what is excessive for one, is not for 
another. The discharge may be natural in quality, 
but it may be excessive in quantity, either from too 



DISORDERS OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 241 

great a flow at one time, or too frequent return 
of the times. It should not be forgotten that natural 
menstrual fluid does not coagulate or clot ; and there- 
fore, the appearance of clots indicates that the dis- 
charge is not healthy. 

Causes. — Repeated child-bearing, and over-suck- 
ling, are considered by Dr. Churchill to be the most 
frequent causes of excessive menstruation. But there 
can be no doubt that the relaxing, exervating influ- 
ences to which women are exposed, from the use of 
foot-stoves, feather-beds, and various other kinds of 
self-indulgence, have much to do with this disorder. 
Indeed, we think if women would obey the laws of 
health, the performance of their duties as mothers 
would not often result in disease. In those predis- 
posed by bad habits, conjugal pleasures, as well as 
maternal duties, may become an exciting cause. 
Excessive menstruation renders women very liable to 
miscarriages and falling of the womb. 

Treatment. — As soon as the flow becomes exces- 
sive, or is likely to do so, the patient should lie down 
on a mattress or sofa, in a cool, well-aired room, and 
she should remain perfectly quiet until all threatening 
symptoms have passed off. If this does not check 
the discharge sufficiently, she may use cooling acid 
drinks, such as lemonade, vinegar and water, cream 
of tartar dissolved in water, &c. Cold drinks may be 
taken freely from the beginning, without the acids, to 
the exclusion of coffee, tea, and all warm stimulating 
drinks. Should the discharge become very profuse, 
cold cloths may be safely applied to the lower part 
of the belly, and frequently changed. Cold water 
21 Q 



2-i2 DISEASES OF THE VAGINA AND WOKB. 

may also be injected into the vagina ; but these reme- 
dies will seldom be required. During the interval, 

the means of restoring the general health should be 
attended to. In short, the general plan recommended 
in "whites" and "green sickness'" "will be appropriate. 
Medicines. — Besides the acid drinks prescribed, 
ten drops of elixir vitriol may be taken, adding a 
sufficient quantity of sweetened water to make an 
agreeable drink. This should be taken through a 
quill. Ten drops of this, or the same quantity of 
muriated tincture of iron, may also be taken three 
times a day, during the intervals, with advantage. 
Cold witch hazel tea, during the attack, is a valuable 
and safe domestic remedy. 

Effects of Disordered Menstruation. 

There is nothing that will produce so many general 
derangements, and such multiplied aches and pains, as 
diseases of the womb. Even the milder functional 
disorders that we have been considering, give rise to 
the following train of symptoms : pain in the head, 
sometimes across the forehead, sometimes on one side, 
and often in the back part ; pain under the left breast 
occupying a small space, in the region of the heart ; 
pain in the back, and region of the womb ; tightness 
across the breast, with a choking sensation like a ball 
in the throat : pain under the short ribs ; colic pains 
in the lower bowels ; nervous pains over the whole 
abdomen ; pain in the kidneys, and difficulty in pass- 
ing water. Besides these we have that serious impair- 
ment of the general health called 



DISEASES OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 243 

Chlorosis or Green Sickness. 

Causes. — Green sickness is generally connected 
with the various disorders of menstruation, and par- 
ticularly absent, suppressed, and profuse menstruation. 
The indolent and luxurious habits of the wealthy, and 
the excessive labors and insufficient food of the poor, 
tend alike to enfeeble the body in general, and the 
digestive organs in particular, so that there is not 
sufficient vital power to establish and carry on men- 
struation ; and green sickness is the result. 

Symptoms. — There seems to be a want of energy 
and vitality in all the organs. The brain is disturbed, 
the mind is a prey to fretfulness and gloomy fore- 
bodings, and the sleep is broken and disturbed by 
frightful dreams ; there is singing in the ears, specks 
before the eyes, swimming in the head, partial loss of 
sight, trembling of the limbs, nervous pains in the 
face and in various parts of the body. The heart 
palpitates, the lungs pant for breath, the stomach 
loathes food, or desires the most unwholesome and 
disgusting things, as dirt, ashes, and even insects; 
while even ordinary food often causes weight, full- 
ness, and pain at the pit of the stomach, heartburn, 
and vomiting. The bowels are generally costive, but 
sometimes loose ; and the urine is pale, generally scant, 
but occasionally profuse, when the brain or nerves 
become unusually excited. The face is bloated, the 
eyes are sad and languishing, the eyelids swollen, the 
lips pale, and the skin cool, clammy, and often cold, 
especially about the hands and feet. 

Tkeatment. — The most marked and essential fea- 



244 DISEASES OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 

tare of this disorder, is a thin, watery, and impover- 
ished state of the blood. And, therefore, whether the 
chlorosis be the cause or the effect of the accompany- 
ing menstrual derangements, the great object of treat- 
ment should be to improve the general health, and to 
restore the blood to its proper condition. This is to 
be done mainly by diligent attention to all the 
hygienic agencies. The patient should breathe a 
pure, bracing air ; she should exercise as much as the 
strength will allow; her diet must consist of ripe 
fruits, laxative vegetables, corn bread, unbolted flour, 
&c. — as recommended under another head — and meats 
in moderation, and especially beef and mutton, are 
unobjectionable ; but all food must be adapted to the 
digestive powers, and when an article disagrees it 
should be left off ; for food, when undigested, irritates 
and weakens rather than strengthens. Water is the 
best drink, for, in these chronic cases, spirituous 
drinks can only produce a temporary exhilaration, 
followed by increased debility. Stimulants may be 
beneficial in removing some urgent symptom in acute 
diseases, but their habitual use in chronic affections 
cannot be too strongly condemned. The dress should 
be sufficiently warm, and loose enough to allow the 
most perfect freedom of every movement. In some 
cases of extreme debility and sensitiveness to cold, it 
may be advisable to wear flannel next the skin, but, 
as a general rule, cold bathing and friction are safer 
and more effectual. Whether flannel is worn or not, 
it is important to avoid all partial exposure of the 
body, and therefore the legs, feet, arms, and breast 
should be comfortably and uniformly clad. (See 



DISEASES OF THE VAGINA AND WOMB. 245 

" Dress" and "Bathing," and the directions for the 
general health, in the preceding sections.) Late hours 
should not be kept, and mattresses should be used 
instead of feather beds. The mind should be diverted 
by innocent amusements, social intercourse, and works 
of charity and benevolence ; and all depressing mental 
influences, high-wrought romances, and everything 
calculated to work on the feelings and affect the 
nerves, should be studiously avoided. Traveling 
cannot be too highly recommended, on account of its 
influence both on mind and body. 

The medical treatment in this disorder consists 
principally in the use of the various preparations of 
iron. Those already prescribed are very good, but 
we will add one other prescription from Dr. Meigs : — 

Take of citrate of iron, 2 drachms; sulphate of 
quinine, J drachm ; water, 1 fluid ounce. Dose from 
20 to 30 drops, in syrup and water, a half hour after 
each meal. 

We have found the following powder to be an 
excellent tonic in chlorosis and other cases requiring 
a strengthening course : — 

Take equal parts of powdered columbo, carbonate 
of iron and ginger, mix them well together, and take 
as much as will lie on the point of a case knife, three 
times a day, before eating. 

" Steel dust" is also one of the very best medi- 
cines; for the preparation and use of which, see 
"Absence and Suppression," &c. Finally, we would 
remark that iron is a valuable auxiliary in the treat- 
ment of the grave complication of disorders embraced 
in the term chlorosis or green sickness; but after 
21* 



246 HYGIENE OF MENSTRUATION. 

all, the great, the principal, and the indispensable 
remedies are pure air, bathing, exercise, cheerfulness, 
a healthful, nourishing, digestible diet, and uniform 
comfortable clothing* 



CHAPTER IV. 
HYGIENE OF MENSTRUATION. 

Directions as to Young Girls, &c. — After what 
has been said in the hygienic part of this work, it is 
only necessary to add a few special directions for the 
management of young girls who are approaching the 
menstrual age. Mothers should never suffer a false 
modesty to prevent them from instructing their 
daughters as to the nature of this discharge, for in 
the absence of this knowledge, attempts have been 
made to " oppose the salutary efforts of nature by 
lotions, injections, and other equally dangerous 
agents." And if no attempt of this kind is made, 
the young girl may suffer much unnecessary anxiety 
of mind, which her modesty causes her to conceal. 
Girls of the greatest purity and modesty are exposed 
to peculiar besetments, while their whole being is in 
the unsettled revolutionary state which precedes the 
first appearance of the menses. And though there 
may be no breach of propriety and good morals, yet 

* For constipation and the menstrual complications of chlorosis, see 
under the appropriate heads. 



HYGIENE OF MENSTRUATION. 247 

the mind, under these natural impulses, is prone to 
false, extravagant, and imaginative views which may 
lead to romantic attachments, that may react unfavor- 
ably on the physical constitution, and embitter the 
whole subsequent life. Girls, then, at this interesting 
and critical period, should have their minds directed 
to those books which exercise the reason and judg- 
ment, to the exclusion of those which address them- 
selves to the imagination ; and above all, those 
seductive fictions should be forbidden that beautifully, 
delicately, and insidiously awaken feelings, and excite 
thoughts, that modesty and purity would fain repel. 
On the same principle, theatres, balls, and promiscu- 
ous assemblages are calculated to exert an unhappy 
influence on the mental and physical, as well as the 
moral, constitution, at this highly impressionable age. 

The " Change of Life." — The period of the final 
cessation of menstruation, is commonly considered to 
be a very critical one with women. But so far is this 
from being true in every case, that many women who 
have greatly suffered from menstrual derangements, 
only begin to enjoy health and happiness when the 
womb ceases to perform its functions. It is true that 
some malignant diseases of the womb are more apt to 
develope themselves at this time of life, but the fears 
entertained as to the dangers of this period, have pro- 
bably originated from the mistaken popular notion, 
that menstruation is a purging of the body from hurt- 
ful and poisonous matters. 

This notion has given rise to the common practice 
of taking pills, elixirs, "life-preservers," blood-puri- 
fiers, drastic purgatives, and numberless other villain- 



248 HYGIENE OF MENSTRUATION. 

oils compounds, far more dangerous to the constitution 
than the condition they are intended to remove. 

Women, as they approach the change of life, which 
usually occurs about the forty-fifth year, instead of 
physicking to guard against imaginary dangers, should 
only more strictly observe the rules of hygiene. The 
diet should be light, unstimulating, and mostly vege- 
table; fat meats, tea, coffee, wines, spices, and, in 
short, everything of an exciting nature, should be 
excluded from the dietary. If the menstruation has 
been profuse, if the habit is full, and if there is a rush 
of blood to the head, or any symptom of inflammation 
about the womb, the diet should be low, the exercise 
active, if nothing forbids ; and the excitement should 
be subdued by the cold wet-sheet pack two or three 
times a week, or oftener, if necessary. Particular care 
should be taken to guard against cold, and especially 
against all partial exposures, such as uncovered arms, 
thinly- clad feet, &c. The bowels should be regulated 
by the use of warm- water injections, and a laxative 
diet, consisting of ripe fruits and vegetables, and 
particularly stewed peaches, baked and stewed apples, 
hominy, wheaten grits, unbolted flour, corn bread, &c. 
"We repeat our caution against the use of purgatives, 
and even of laxatives, except under peculiar circum- 
stances. Aloetic medicines are to be particularly 
avoided. Finally, women at this time of life should 
cultivate the intellectual and suppress the emotional — 
they should seek the calm, complacent, and ennobling 
pleasures of mind, rather than those frivolous and dis- 
turbing enjoyments which are injurious to the health 
and derogatory to that respect which a cultivated 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 249 

woman is so well calculated to inspire at this time of 
life. Fretfulness, discontent, and all gloomy depress- 
ing feelings should be dispelled by the agreeable 
thought that the pangs, dangers, and troubles of child- 
bearing are over ; and that this period being happily 
past, they then have a better chance of a long life 
than men. 



CHAPTER V. 
ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

Under this head will be noticed — inflammation of 
the womb ; tumors ; cancer ; and other malignant dis- 
eases of the womb; and displacements of this organ. 
All these, except the last, involve more or less change 
of structure, and are therefore properly called organic 
diseases. 

Inflammation of the Womb. 

Acute inflammation of the womb, in women not with 
child, or in child-bed, is not a frequent disease, and 
need not detain us long. 

Causes. — The most common causes are, blows, 
falls, &c. 

Symptoms. — Chilliness, followed by fever ; heat and 
uneasiness in the region of the womb, with occasional 
sharp pains in the back darting forwards, and down 
the thighs. The pain is much increased by coughing, 
sneezing, moving, and by hard pressure over the 
womb. 



250 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

Treatment. — If there is much, fever, sponge fre- 
quently with cold water, or use the cold wet-sheet 
pack, and repeat it until the fever abates : this should 
be used from a half-hour to an hour each time, accord- 
ing to the effect as indicated by the feelings. The 
only additional treatment adapted to domestic practice 
is, a cold wet bandage to the lower part of the belly, 
renewed as often as it becomes warm ; frequent injec- 
tions of cold water into the vagina; occasional injec- 
tions into the bowels of water, cold or warm, accord- 
ing to the feelings and effect, if there is constipation. 
Cold water may be taken according to the thirst ; and 
Epsom salts and Seidlitz powders may be safely used, 
if the bowels are very costive and do not yield to the 
injections. 

Chronic or slow inflammation of the womb is a much 
more common disease than the form above, for while 
acute inflammation (except in child-bed) is rare, slow 
or chronic inflammation, especially about the mouth 
of the womb, is a disease of very frequent occurrence. 
All ages are subject to it, but it is seen oftenest during 
the child-bearing age. Many cases of disordered men- 
struation have their origin in chronic inflammation of 
the womb ; and women, through ignorance of this 
fact, or through delicacy, often fail to seek relief until 
their sufferings become intolerable, and the disease, 
perhaps, beyond remedy. The body of the womb is 
sometimes affected ; but, as this is comparatively rare, 
we pass on to chronic inflammation of the mouth and 
neck of the womb. 

Causes. — In civilized life, the predisposing and 
exciting causes are almost innumerable ; we therefore 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 251 

refer to the causes enumerated under the head of 
" Simple Absence of the Menses" — " Suppression or 
Stoppage," &c. — "Painful Menstruation," — "Exces- 
sive Flaw," &c— and "Whites." 

Symptoms. — Chronic inflammation of the womb is 
a very insidious disease, and it not unfrequently 
makes considerable progress without any symptoms 
in the part affected sufficiently marked to attract the 
attention of the patient. We have known a case, 
where an examination revealed a large ulcer* on both 
lips of the mouth of the womb, and yet there was 
scarcely any pain in those parts. When local symp- 
toms are present,, they are a dull pain in the lower 
part of the abdomen, depression or sinking down of 
the womb, sometimes; and frequently a mucous or 
whitish discharge, which is sometimes tinged with 
blood, if there is ulceration. Pain in sexual inter- 
course is perhaps one of the earliest and most com- 
mon symptoms. Among the local symptoms may be 
mentioned also the various disorders of menstruation, 
as suppression, excessive flow, and particularly pain- 
ful menstruation. Pain or some uneasiness in empty- 
ing the bladder and bowels is also a common sjanp- 
tom. The general or constitutional effects of chronic 
inflammation of the womb, are so numerous as to defy 
description : the principal of these are, pains in the 
head, mostly in some particular part, as the back, 
front, or one-half of the head; deranged stomach, 
manifested by sourness, sickness, stinking-belch, 
"goneness" at the stomach, &c, &c. The bowels are 

*An eatiDg-out of the flesh; loss of substance. 



252 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

irregular, the heart palpitates or intermits, there is a 
feeling like a ball in the throat, change of disposition, 
loss of flesh, discoloration or blanching of the skin, 
indescribable nervous feelings and pains; and in short, 
all the symptoms mentioned under the head of " Chlo- 
rosis," and many more, which will never be described, 
from the fact that there is no language to express 
them. 

Terminations. — The most common terminations 
of inflammation of the womb are enlargement, thicken- 
ing, hardening, and ulceration of the inflamed part. 
And when we speak of "terminations," we do not 
mean to convey the idea that the disease actually ends, 
but that the inflammation results in structural or 
organic changes which may, or may not, be beyond 
remedy. 

Enlargement, hardening, and ulceration may exist 
separately, or they may be combined. The existence 
of these changes can only be positively determined 
by an "examination;" and we therefore most earnestly 
advise all who are afflicted with symptoms of inflam- 
mation of the womb, to seek the advice of a skillful 
physician, should the remedies soon to be prescribed, 
fail to give relief in due time. 

Treatment. — The great objects of treatment 
should be to improve the general health, and to dis- 
tribute the blood throughout the whole svstem, and 
thus draw off any excess from the womb. To accom- 
plish the first end (improvement of the general 
health) the course prescribed in "Whites," "Simple 
Absence," &c, and " Green Sickness," will be appro- 
priate. A general bath should be used once a day, 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 253 

but the water should be tepid or warm at first, and 
the shower-bath should not be resorted to until the 
system has been gradually accustomed to cold water, 
and the vital powers sufficiently strengthened to react 
fully and quickly. It is best to begin with a sponge- 
bath or general wash-down with water slightly warm, 
using it a little colder each time. With these pre- 
cautions, the cold bath may be safely used in every 
form of chronic womb disease, with the greatest 
advantage, and far more safely than forcing drugs, 
pukes, purges, opiates, stimulants, and other remedies 
so often resorted to in domestic practice. It is all a 
notion that the judicious use of cold water in womb 
diseases is dangerous ; for the womb is not more liable 
to be injuriously affected by cold than any other 
organ ; and the manner in which water acts, and the 
principles that should guide in its use, are so plain 
and easily understood, that any one of ordinary 
intelligence can understand and apply them. But 
the same cannot be said of drugs, which must be 
prescribed, by those not well versed in the mysteries 
of medicine, in a kind of hap-hazard way, with as 
much probability of doing harm as good. The rush 
of blood to the womb should be checked or prevented 
by short cold hip-baths two or three times a day, as 
prescribed in whites ; and the injections, frictions, and 
other means of procuring a strong action of the skin, 
should be diligently attended to. The wet bandage 
should be worn on the abdomen constantly, and 
changed whenever it becomes dry or unpleasantly 
warm. This sometimes causes a breaking out on the 
skin ; but be not alarmed at this, for it is an evidence 

29 



254 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

of the favorable action of the remedy. For the 
palpitation of the heart ; and the dyspeptic symptoms, 
there is nothing better than the wet bandage. In the 
palpitation, a cloth may be simply wet in cold water, 
and laid over the heart, exposing the breast to the 
air, and changing the cloth frequently if there is much 
excitement, and especially if there is excessive heat 
about the breast or body. 

This will almost always succeed in relieving this 
very disagreeable symptom, until it can be finally re- 
moved by the improvement of the general health. 
We have had a case of this kind, in which the heart 
fluttered, intermitted, or stopped, and cut up a great 
many strange capers, much to the alarm of the un- 
fortunate lady, who verily thought sometimes that her 
hour had come ; the wet cloth, as prescribed, and the 
hot foot-bath, which is a valuable addition, never 
failed to give relief, until the original cause (inflamma- 
tion of the mouth of the womb) being removed, the 
palpitation gradually ceased. Headache is best re- 
lieved by the hot foot-bath, and by strict attention to 
diet, to the bowels, and to the state of the mind. The 
diet should consist mostly of vegetables, fruits, and 
the laxative articles of food before prescribed. (See 
" Whites.") These will generally be sufficient to pre- 
vent or relieve constipation, but should anything else 
be necessary, use injections, and establish a regular 
habit by having a set time, &c. 

Medicines. — Any of the preparations of iron, pre- 
scribed under the preceding heads, may be taken ; but 
purgatives should be avoided as far as possible. And 
our experience enables us to assert positively that 



OEGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 255 

they are not often necessary. Forcing drugs, such 
as aloes and other things intended to bring on the 
courses, should be shunned as the very gates of death. 

Ulceration, which is one of the effects or terminations 
of inflammation of the womb, consists in an eating out 
of the flesh, forming a hole or raw surface. As we have 
before stated, ulceration may exist without any very 
well-marked symptoms in the part affected. When 
these are present, they are pretty much the same as 
those of inflammation ; but there is only one way in 
which ulceration can positively and certainly be dis- 
covered, and that is by having a physician to examine 
with his finger and with a glass or metal tube, called 
a speculum. "When an inflammation of the womb 
obstinately resists the treatment above prescribed, no 
feelings of delicacy should prevent women from sub- 
mitting to this kind of examination. And so far from 
hesitating to do so, they should suggest it to their 
physician, should he fail to discharge his duty in this 
respect through negligence or any other cause. It is 
true that this is a repulsive and disagreeable operation 
both to physician and patient ; and we are sure that 
we can enter fully into the feelings of both ; yet, while 
we would fain shun this disagreeable duty, and while 
we highly, warmly appreciate that true modesty and 
delicacy of feeling which are the brightest ornaments 
of womanhood — yet we say — while all this is true, we 
can but condemn that false and extreme modesty that 
prevents women from submitting to an examination 
when health and even life itself are involved. We 
entreat our readers to let nothing of this kind induce 
them to conceal their true condition; for health is the 



256 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

first, the greatest, the most desirable of all earthly 
objects; and any sacrifices and exposures, in pursuit 
of this most precious boon, will only increase the 
respect, and elicit the tenderest sympathies of every 
true-hearted man. And any man who is capable of 
any other feelings towards a suffering and afflicted 
woman, is unworthy of the name of physician.' — a 
burning reproach to his profession, to manhood, and 
to common humanity. We hope, and believe, that 
there are few, very few, regiilar physicians who would 
unnecessarily expose a woman through a desire for 
gain, or through any base or unworthy motive. 'Tis 
true that there are illegitimate harpies who hang on 
the skirts of the profession, and occasionally obtain 
admittance into the sacred portals of Medicine. These 
speculators in human misery, and contemners of 
womanly virtue and purity, may generally be known 
by their lofty pretensions, their unbecoming familiarity 
and want of respect towards women — a studious mys- 
teriousness of manner, and a pompous affectation of 
knowledge. Of such beware ! 

Treatment. — When ulceration has been discovered 
by an examination, the same general plan prescribed 
in inflammation may still be pursued. But there is 
one other remedy which we have found to be very 
valuable. This is a continuous application of cold 
water immediately to the sore or ulcerated place on the 
womb. 

This application is made with a funnel and gum 
elastic tube. It is highly efficient ; but as it could not 
be used well except under the direction of a physician, 
we think it needless to describe the apparatus. We 



OEGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 257 

mention it, however, in order that patients may 
snggest it to their physicians ; for it is a remedy but 
seldom used. And yet, what is more likely to exert 
a happy influence over a sore and inflamed surface 
than the direct, cooling, soothing, cleansing, constant 
application of cold water ? 

In a very severe case of ulceration, involving both 
lips of the mouth of the womb, we have used it as 
much as six hours in a day, with short intervals for 
rest, with the most happy effects, and without a single 
disagreeable symptom. And this case was two or 
three months advanced in pregnancy, and the disease 
had resisted burning with lunar caustic, which had 
been frequently resorted to, together with all the most 
approved remedies. In this case the mouth of the 
womb was not only extensively ulcerated, but it was 
swollen and had a livid appearance, almost like some 
malignant disease ; and the general health was very 
much impaired : — indeed she had almost all the symp- 
toms already mentioned as arising from inflammation 
of the womb. Yet under the use of the ivomb-bath, 
in a few weeks the inflammation subsided, the 
ulceration healed, and she is now near her confine- 
ment, and in excellent health — better than she has 
been in all her life : and all this without a single dose 
of medicine. We know that there is a strong prejudice 
against the use of cold water among many, and 
especially in womb diseases, but reason and expe- 
rience teach us that these prejudices are unfounded, 
and that cold water is a safe and most effectual 
remedy even in bad cases of inflammation of the 
womb, as the above case conclusively shows. And 
22 * R 



253 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

this case lias been introduced for the purpose of 
inspiring confidence and removing groundless fears. 

Tumors and other Collections in the Womb. 

Nature of the Tumors. — These are solid fleshy 
bodies growing in the walls of the womb; or they are 
attached to the mouth, or some part of the inner 
surface of the womb, by a slender stalk or pedicle : 
in the latter case they are called polypous tumors — 
in the former—; -fibrous. The fibrous tumors seldom 
produce any constitutional effect, and the symptoms 
are mostly mechanical, or such as are caused by 
pressure; such as weight, bearing down, aching in 
the loins, &c. But we think it unnecessary to say 
more on this subject, as these tumors are compara- 
tively rare, and as their management does not pertain 
to domestic practice. 

Polypous Tumors. — The remarks above are. to a 
considerable extent, true of polypous tumors ; yet it 
is desirable that women should know something of 
the nature and symptoms of these growths, so that 
they may seek timely aid when they have the symp- 
toms soon to be mentioned. Polypous tumors vary in 
size ; they may be no larger than a pea, or as large 
as a child's head. They are solid fleshy masses 
suspended by a stalk from the inside of the womb, or 
from the mouth of the womb. 

Symptoms. — "When these tumors attain a consider- 
able size, there is a bearing-down pain, straining, 
and difficulty in evacuating the bladder and bowels ; 
but the most striking symptom is frequent, and some- 
times profuse, floodings. Another symptom of very 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 259 

constant occurrence is vomiting and sick stomach. 
When these symptoms occur, and especially when 
they persist so as to cause paleness, loss of flesh, 
palpitation of the heart, and other symptoms arising 
from loss of blood, no time should be lost in seeking 
the advice of a skillful physician, who can generally 
give relief by an operation. 

Air and Water in the Womb. — Besides these 
tumors, there is sometimes, though rarely, a collection 
of air or water in the cavity of the womb. The 
symptoms are almost precisely those of pregnancy yet 
to be noticed, and the distinction can only be made 
by a physician. 

Other collections in the womb, as moles, &c, will 
be noticed under a subsequent head. 

Malignant Diseases of the Womb.— Cancer. 

Cancer and other malignant diseases are character- 
ized by a disposition to spread and extend themselves 
by changing the structure of the surrounding parts. 
Cancer is the most fearful and fatal disease to which 
the womb is exposed. It rarely attacks young women, 
and is most common about the " change of life." 

Stages. — There are two stages of cancer ; one is 
the stage of thickening or hardening, and the other, the 
stage of open ulceration. 

Causes. — The disease is frequently hereditary, and 
when there is a predisposition, any of the causes 
already mentioned as likely to excite the womb, may 
develop cancer. 

Symptoms. — These are very numerous, and we 
will only notice the principal. In the stage of thicken- 



260 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

ing and hardening, before ulceration begins, the symp- 
toms are such as arise from pressure : as uneasiness in 
standing and walking, a bearing down sensation, 
straining in emptying the bowels and bladder, &c, 
&c. In the early part of this stage, there is not gener- 
ally much decided pain, nor is there much discharge 
either white or red, and the discharge is not offensive. 

In the second stage, or that of open cancer or ulcera- 
tion, the symptoms are more marked. The pain is 
severe, acute, and darting or burning. Sometimes it 
is said to be like knives plunged into the affected 
part. In this stage, there is more or less loss of blood, 
sometimes considerable ; and when blood is not 
present, the discharge is thin, greenish, black, dirty 
white or brown, and has a very offensive smell ; so 
much so that it is a source of great annoyance to the 
unfortunate patient and all her attendants. This 
discharge is also acrid and irritating, removing the 
skin, and causing a rawness of the privates, the inside 
of the thighs, and all the parts with which it may 
come in contact. All the difficulties about the bladder 
and lower bowel are now increased ; and the pain in 
evacuating these is sometimes most intolerable. The 
skin is yellow or of a leaden hue, there is slow fever, 
night sweats, great loss of flesh, sick stomach, want 
of appetite, and in short, general derangement in all 
the functions of the body. 

Treatment. — Confirmed cancer is an incurable dis- 
ease ; but much may be done to palliate the symptoms, 
and if the disease be discovered in its first stages, 
there can be no doubt that it may be held in check 
by a judicious course of treatment. And as the 



OKGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 261 

symptoms are at first so obscure that the existence of 
approaching cancer can only be certainly determined 
by such an " examination" as we have before so 
strongly insisted on, no time should be lost in submit- 
ting to such an examination, if suspicious symptoms 
are present. The grand objects of treatment should 
be, 1st, to remove as far as possible any of the causes 
already mentioned under the preceding heads, that 
are likely to excite the womb ; and 2d, to draw off 
the excitement from the womb. The first is to be 
accomplished by avoiding foot-stoves, heavy clothing 
about the hips, sexual indulgences, stimulating food 
and drinks, and especially tea and coffee. The blood 
is to be drawn off from the womb by the frequent 
use of short cold hip-baths, followed by frictions, as 
prescribed in whites, and by the use of injections into 
the vagina with water cold or warm, according to the 
feelings. The bowels should be relieved every day 
by an injection of warm water, and the diet should 
be of the laxative kind already so often prescribed. 
The body should be sponged all over, once a day, 
with water cold or tepid, according to the feelings, 
and this should be followed by a good rubbing, and 
by carriage exercise, if more active exercise cannot 
be taken. If the frequent injection of water into the 
vagina is not sufficient to remove the offensiveness of 
the discharge, ten grains of nitrate of silver (lunar 
caustic) may be added to one ounce of water, and used 
occasionally. Chloride of soda may also be used in the 
same way, by taking a teaspoonful of the solution, 
and adding it to two ounces of water. The diet 
should be light, mostly vegetable, and small in quan- 



262 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

tity, especially if there is feverishness and disordered 
stomach. Opium and other narcotics are generally 
prescribed in the last stages of this disease, to mitigate 
the sufferings of the poor unfortunate ; but we cannot 
recommend this practice, if it can possibly be avoided : 
at any rate it should not be resorted to, without the 
advice of a physician, and even when prescribed by 
him, there should be great reluctance to adopt a 
course of treatment which, while it procures tempo- 
rary ease, only increases the general derangement 
of the system. Therefore make opium the last 
resort; use it only to smooth the pathway to the 
tomb, and be fully assured that nothing else will do. 
After exhausting the remedies prescribed, before 
resorting to opiates, give the womb-bath as prescribed 
in ulceration a fair trial. We cannot imagine 
anything more likely to soothe the pain, allay the 
inflammation, and wash away the offensiveness than 
this ; and it is far more safe than opium, or anything 
of the kind. 

Corroding Ulcer and Cauliflower Excrescence. 

These are also malignant diseases of the womb. 
The symptoms resemble very much those of cancer — 
so much that the distinction cannot well be made in 
domestic practice. About the only difference between 
corroding ulcer and cancer, is the absence in the 
former, of the filling up around the diseased part and 
the thickening and hardening, which have been 
described as the first stage of cancer. The most 
distinctive symptom of cauliflower excrescence is a 
profuse watery shedding at first, which after awhile 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 263 

is streaked with blood, and finally changes to a pro- 
fuse flooding. The other symptoms are almost 
identical with cancer, and the treatment should be 
conducted on the same plan. 

Falling of the Womb. 

This disorder is described in medical books as pro- 
lapsus uteri, and is one of the most common and 
disagreeable infirmities to which women are subject. 
The womb may descend but a little below its ordinary 
level, or it may protrude entirely, so as to be seen. 
The natural position of the womb is from four to six 
inches from the external opening ; and when the 
woman can easily touch its mouth with her finger, 
she may know that it is lower than it should be. Yet 
there may be a considerable sinking of the womb 
without any material inconvenience, and the organ is 
naturally lower in some women than in others. Fall- 
ing of the womb may occur at any time of life, but 
child-bearing women, somewhat advanced in years, 
are much more subject to it than others. 

Causes. — There can be no doubt that the immediate 
cause is relaxation of the vagina and the muscles of 
the abdomen. The " relaxation of the ligaments," so 
much dwelt upon in medical books, has little or 
nothing to do with it, only as an effect. The relaxa- 
tion of the vagina and abdominal muscles is caused 
by child-bearing, whites, and all those debilitating 
habits of civilized life which weaken the body. In 
short, everything that shatters the nerves and enfeebles 
the muscles, predisposes to falling of the womb. 

The exciting causes are getting up too early after 



264 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

confinement, falls, especially on the feet or buttocks, 
tight dresses, lifting heavy weights, straining, as in 
evacuating the bowels, pulling at the cord after con- 
finement, in delivering the afterbirth, &c, &c. A 
few of these causes will be noticed more particularly. 
Child-bearing and too early getting up after confine- 
ment have been mentioned among the causes ; but it 
is our opinion that these things would but seldom 
result in falling of the womb, if women would leave 
off their enervating habits, and live so as to give 
strength and firmness to their muscles. To suppose 
that falling of the womb is a necessary result of 
child-bearing, in itself, is to impugn the wisdom and 
goodness of the Almighty, and to say that he has 
imposed a duty on woman which she cannot perform, 
except at the sacrifice of health and comfort. Can 
any one believe this ? Errors in dress have also been 
mentioned among the causes. In addition to tight 
dresses, we would call special attention to long-waisted 
and long-pointed dresses as a cause of failing of the 
womb. These long points generally contain steel or 
whalebone, and they crowd the contents of the belly 
downward on the womb, which yields to the pressure, 
having nothing to support it below, except the vagina 
in which it rests. ISTo woman who desires health and 
comfort should ever wear a long-pointed dress. Hang- 
ing a number of skirts on the hips and lower part of 
the abdomen, is also well calculated to cause falling 
of the womb ; and for this reason we rejoice at the 
introduction of hoop skirts, which obviate the necessity 
for so many under-garments, and remove, to a con- 
siderable extent, the downward dragging weight. 



ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 265 

Use them, then, of moderate dimensions, and let fools 
laugh and jeer. While speaking of the causes, it 
may be proper to explain a little more fully how 
relaxation of the muscles of the abdomen or belly 
causes falling of the womb. This will serve to show 
the importance of using means to prevent the relaxa- 
tion. When these muscles are firm and strong, any 
one can see in a moment that they must press the 
stomach, liver, bowels, and all the contents of the 
belly, upwards and backwards, whereas if they are 
relaxed, they will yield to the pressure from within, 
and allow the organs to push forward and press down- 
ward, crowding on the womb. 

Symptoms. — These are, pain in the back, or perhaps 
oftener, weakness in the back, with a dragging bear- 
ing-down sensation, as if something were about to 
come away. These feelings are much worse in stand- 
ing or walking, and they are apt to be most trouble- 
some in the evening. With these symptoms there is 
not unfrequently a whitish discharge, and some strain- 
ing and difficulty in evacuating the bladder and 
bowels. In some cases, the pressure on the bladder 
is so great as to cause a total stoppage of urine ; and 
most cases of what are called " gravel," among women, 
have their origin in falling of the womb. In these 
cases, the difficulty is caused by pressure. " Whites," 
as just intimated, is a very common accompaniment 
of falling of the womb. The "courses" generally 
continue regular ; at any rate, there is nothing in the 
prolapsus to prevent this. The stomach and bowels 
often sympathize with the womb, and there is loss of 
appetite, collections of wind in the bowels, and other 
23 



266 ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

dyspeptic symptoms. The spirits flag, and there is 
often nervousness and general derangement of health. 
"When the womb escapes between the thighs, it is 
much exposed to irritation from friction, pressure, 
and from the passage of urine over it, and it is very 
likely to become sore, and raw or ulcerated. 

Treatment. — Should the womb be entirely out, 
and should there be any soreness or inflammation 
about the mouth of it, the womb -bath should be used 
by letting the water fall on the affected part from a 
long-mouth funnel, or from a shorter tube than would 
be needed, when the introduction of the latter is 
required. Yet the tube or funnel should be placed 
close to the womb, so as to prevent any shock from 
the fall of the water. All swelling, soreness, and 
inflammation having been reduced by the persevering 
use of this bath (using the water cold or warm, 
according to the feelings), the womb should then be 
pushed back to its place with the finger, and the 
following treatment (which is also appropriate in cases 
where the womb does not come out) should be 
pursued. Throw up the vagina, with a womb-syringe, 
the coldest water three times a day, or offeener, if 
there is much pressing down. Three or four syringe- 
fuls should be thrown up each time. In addition to 
the cold injections, use a cold hip-bath one or two 
minutes, but not longer, three times a day, and rub 
well, as directed in whites. Apply a bandage also to 
the abdomen, made as follows : Take a piece of cotton 
jeans eight or ten inches wide, and place gores in the 
bottom, so that it will fit over the hips ; then button 
to this in front, a piece of soft old cloth from three 



OEGANIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 267 

to five inches wide, and pass it down between the 
thighs, to be buttoned to the bandage behind. This 
should be moderately tight, so as to afford comfort- 
able support. Whenever the bandage is removed — 
which should be once a day — wash the lower part of 
the abdomen where it has been applied in cold water, 
and rub well. Should a persevering use of these 
means fail to give relief, which will seldom be the 
case, add as much powdered alum to the water as it 
will dissolve, and continue to inject in the same way 
as when the water was used alone. Should the womb 
still fall out, a sponge of the proper size, with a string 
run through it, to withdraw it, may be soaked in 
alum water or strong red-oak bark tea, and pushed 
up the vagina, after the womb is replaced. This 
sponge should be removed at least once a day, for the 
purpose of using the injections. All this a woman, 
by exercising a little ingenuity, can do herself, and 
she may thus often relieve herself of this very trouble- 
some infirmity, without any exposure. Pessaries of 
glass, wood, &c, are often used by physicians for the 
purpose of keeping the womb up, but nothing but 
the sponge pessary prescribed should ever be resorted 
to in domestic practice. The bowels should be kept 
in proper condition by the use of the laxative diet so 
often prescribed, and by injections of cold or warm 
water with a common syringe. This the woman can 
also use herself by getting a self-syringe ; and it is 
important that constipation should be guarded against, 
for the passage of hardened matters from the bowels 
tends strongly to force the womb down. Have a 
regular time to empty the bowels then, and throw up 



268 OEGAXIC DISEASES OF THE WOMB. 

a large syringeful of water just before the time. If 
it will answer the purpose, cold water will be better ; 
but if not, use warm water. Sleep on a mattress, and 
be very gentle and cautious in all your movements ; 
but still take as much exercise as the nature of the 
case will admit. But exercise must always be discon- 
tinued whenever there is a great increase of pain, 
bearing down, &c. ; and you must then lie down on 
your back until all these symptoms pass off. The 
great majority of cases of falling of the womb may 
be either cured or greatly relieved by this simple 
course of treatment, and we do hope that neither 
negligence, or prejudice against the use of injections, 
or anything of this kind, will prevent our readers 
from following our advice. 

Falling of the Womb Backward. 

After falling downwards of the womb, this is the 
most common displacement. In this form the womb 
tilts backwards, and is wedged down by the promi- 
inence at the lower part of the back bone. It occurs 
most commonly in the early stages of pregnancy, and 
is generally caused by suffering the urine to accumu- 
late in the bladder. The symptoms are straining and 
difficulty in passing the urine, and in emptying the 
bowels ; and the accident will require the attention 
of a physician. This form of displacement has 
therefore been introduced only to guard women 
against holding the water too long, which they are 
very apt to do from modesty, and the restraints 
imposed on them by society. While pregnant women 
are most liable to this very disagreeable accident, it 



SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY. 269 

may occur in others, and we therefore repeat that 
women should not suffer anything to induce them to 
let the urine collect too largely in the bladder. 

Diseases of the Ovaries, &c. 

The ovaries or egg-bags, and the Fallopian tubes, 
are subject to acute and chronic inflammation like 
the womb, but as these affections are comparatively 
rare, they need not detain us in a work of this kind. 

The symptoms of inflammation in these parts are 
very similar to those arising from inflammation of 
the womb, and the treatment is to be conducted on 
the same general plan. Besides inflammation, the 
ovaries are subject to a slow accumulation of water, 
called dropsy of the ovaria. The symptoms are very 
much like those of pregnancy, and cannot be dis- 
tinguished except by a physician, who should also 
conduct the treatment. 



CHAPTER VI. 
SYMPTOMS AND HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

It is hardly necessary to say anything on the import- 
ance of determining the existence of pregnancy in 
many cases ; instead, then, of insisting on this, we 
will only say that women should inform themselves, 
as far as possible, as to the symptoms of this condition; 
for, with all the knowledge they can obtain, they will 
often be left in doubt for some time, although many 
23* 



270 SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY. 

ignorant people would have them believe that there 
is nothing easier than to decide as to the pregnancy 
of a woman, even in a few weeks or days after con- 
ception. 

Pregnancy causes a change in the features generally. 
The eyes are said to lose their brilliancy, and they 
are surrounded by a dark circle. The nose becomes 
sharper and apparently longer, and the chin seems to 
be more prominent. In short, there is often a kind 
of tightness or sharpness of the whole face. The 
neck, also, frequently enlarges. The breasts increase 
in size, become tender and firmer, the nipple rises 
and is surrounded by a dark circle, and sometimes a 
thin whitish fluid may be squeezed from the nipple. 
In women who have never borne children, the circle 
is very plain, and is a symptom of great value. The 
taste is frequently perverted, and there are strange 
longings. Loss of appetite and " morning sickness" 
are rarely absent in the early months of pregnancy. 
This morning sickness is sometimes attended with 
a pain in the back part of the head and vomiting; 
and whether the vomiting be present or not, the sick- 
ness is attended with great weakness, loathing, and 
disgust about the stomach. 

The moral feelings of women are frequently much 
changed by pregnancy, and sometimes the disposition 
undergoes a complete revolution : women who are 
naturally gay and good naturecl become gloomy and 
fretful ; and on the other hand, those of an unlovely 
disposition become more amiable and interesting. 
Corresponding changes are seen in the intellectual 



SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY. 271 

faculties, but these are, perhaps, oftener exalted than 
depressed. 

Some women have a kind of salivation or profuse 
spitting as a symptom of pregnancy ; and others have 
signs peculiar to themselves, by which they can 
determine their condition with considerable accuracy, 
after they have had sufficient experience. 

But of all the symptoms of pregnancy, the most 
reliable, perhaps, are those furnished by the menses 
and urine. It is a rule, with very few exceptions, 
that pregnancy suspends menstruation ; a woman, 
then, who is " regular," may tell pretty well from 
this sign ; but its value is much impaired by the fact 
that many things besides pregnancy will stop the 
courses. Yet when there is no manifest cause for 
this stoppage, and when it is attended with several 
of the symptoms already mentioned, the evidence is 
tolerably conclusive. Still, it should be known that 
the courses may stop, and that every one of the other 
symptoms may be present, and yet the woman may 
not be pregnant. There is an appearance connected 
with the urine that may be readily distinguished by 
any one, and recent researches have shown that it is 
the most reliable of all the signs in early pregnancy. 
The urine is to be put into a glass tumbler, and set in 
the sun. On the second or third day, a pellicle (or 
scum) will rise to the surface, resembling the fatty- 
scum that is found on the surface of broth after it 
becomes cold. After the fourth day, the pellicle 
begins to break up, and by degrees sinks to the 
bottom. It is found in the urine as early as the first 
month. There is no difficulty whatever in distin- 



272 HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

guishing this scum — it is sometimes pretty thick, and 
has a shiny, wavy appearance. And so far as our 
observation extends, it has been found to be an uner- 
ring sign. Quickening, or the sensible movements of 
the child, usually occurs about the fourth or fifth 
month, and settles the matter beyond all question, 
provided the woman is not mistaken in this thing, 
which is not unfrequently the case ; for the movements 
are at first very feeble, and though there is something 
rather peculiar about them, nervous women and those 
who are anxious for an increase, have been deceived 
by wind moving in the bowels. 

Hygiene of Pregnancy. — Pregnancy is a natural 
physiological condition, and there is nothing incom- 
patible with its existence and the enjoyment of health. 
There can be no doubt that the formidable list of 
"diseases of pregnancy" contained in medical books, 
and considered by most women as natural and una- 
voidable, are the direct result of violations of the 
laws of health. That women suffer, grievously suffer, 
in the present state of things, is very certain f and 
however incredible it may be, it is equally certain 
that many, or all these sufferings, can be prevented. 
The means by which this may be done will now be 
pointed out ; and, in most cases, we can confidently 
promise health and comfort as the reward of obedi- 
ence. We know that such declarations as these sound 
strange to many, who think that a pregnant woman 
must be sick, as a matter of course : to such as these 
we can only say, try the directions here given ; they 
will certainly be nothing against you, and if you do 
not find entire relief, you will most assuredly find that 



HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 273 

many — most of the evils attendant on pregnancy are 
not unavoidable. Pregnancy, though a natural con- 
dition, is one of excitement ; this is not strange, when 
we consider the wonderful changes in the womb, and 
the extensive sympathies of this organ. The womb, 
which in its natural, unimpregnated state, will not 
more than receive the kernel of an almond, increases 
its containing power more than five hundred tim.es/ 
This vast change, in an organ which is the very 
centre of sympathetic excitement in woman, arouses 
every function of the body into activity — the pulse is 
increased in frequency and force — the breathing is 
quicker — the temperature is higher — all the secretions 
are increased — the skin is more active — the urine 
flows more abundantly — the mind is generally more 
on the alert — the nervous sensibilities are more acute 
and impressible ; and, in short, the whole system is in 
a state of unusual activity — in a state of excitement 
bordering on fever. "With this fact distinctly in 
mind, the force and propriety of the following direc- 
tions can be fully appreciated. Pure air, so important 
in every condition, is absolutely indispensable to the 
health of pregnant women. We have already insisted 
so much on the importance of ventilation, &c, that it 
is needless to enlarge on this subject. The clothing 
should be perfectly loose, and corsets, whalebones, 
and everything of the kind, should be banished just 
as soon as there is a reasonable presumption that preg- 
nancy may exist. Many women bring on abortion, 
inflammation of the breasts, swelling of the legs, 
falling of the womb, and many other evils, by foolish 
attempts to conceal their condition by the use of long- 

S 



274 HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

pointed dresses, laced jackets, &c. There is nothing 
disgraceful or reproachful in this condition, that a 
married woman should endeavor to conceal it; and 
those who are prompted by false modesty, or any other 
consideration, to do so by the use of tight dresses, 
will most assuredly suffer the penalty affixed to so 
gross a violation of Nature's laws. The feet should 
be well protected by shoes sufficiently thick, and 
drawers should be worn in cold or changeable weather 
to protect the legs. Garters should be dispensed with 
if possible, and especially in the latter months, when 
the veins are very likely to become enlarged. The 
diet of pregnant women should be plain, simple, 
unstimulating, and rather small in quantity. One of 
the greatest errors in diet arises from the idea, that 
the woman must eat "for two. 11 But if she eats more 
than she can digest, of course it does the child no 
good, while it does the mother great harm ; a lesson 
which many have been taught by colic pangs, sour 
stomach, heartburn, headache, hurried circulation, 
disordered bowels, a feeling of great oppression, &c, 
&c. The rule then as to quantity is: to eat just so much 
as the stomach can easily 'manage, and NO MORE. 
Every mouthful over this does no good, and must do 
harm; and the dangers of eating too much are far 
greater than those of eating too little. 

The quality of the food is equally important with 
its quantity. It should be mostly vegetable; as a 
general rule, meat should not be indulged in more 
than once a day; and especially if there be much 
fullness of habit. The vegetables used should be of 
a laxative nature, and the diet should be sufficiently 



HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 275 

coarse to keep the bowels in proper condition. For 
this purpose, corn bread, corn grits, unbolted flour 
bread, wheaten grits, potatoes, ripe fruits in season, 
stewed fruits, molasses, &c, should be used. And if 
any of these should decidedly disagree by causing 
colic, sour stomach, or any other disagreeable symp- 
tom, first reduce the quantity, and if this does not 
succeed, leave off the offending article entirely. The 
food should be plain and unstimulating, and therefore 
all high seasoning and salting should be avoided. 
Stimulating drinks are also to be banished; as a 
general rule, pure water, and milk should be the only 
drinks of pregnant women. This rule, of course, 
excludes those common beverages tea and coffee. 
These are very objectionable : they are heating from 
their temperature, stimulating in their nature, and 
particularly exciting to the brain and nerves, which 
are too ready to respond to any additional excitement. 
There can be no doubt that many of the distressing 
nervous and dyspeptic symptoms with which preg- 
nant women are tormented, have their origin in the 
excessive use of tea and coffee. 

The remarks above apply with equal force to that 
pernicious weed tobacco ; women who would enjoy 
health must lay aside snuff- rubbing and smoking, and 
especially in pregnancy. Opium and all strong medi- 
cines should be eschewed, unless they are prescribed 
by a physician. Many of these, and especially opiates, 
act injuriously both on mother and child. It is a 
popular notion that pregnant women must be bled ; 
but so far is this from being true that this is rarely 
necessary except in some acute attacks, which are not 



276 HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

likely to occur if women live right. Bleeding may 
be necessary in some of the diseases of pregnant 
women, but the practice of resorting to it on all occa- 
sions, without the advice of a physician, cannot be 
too strongly reprobated. The absurd notion that a 
woman must be bled just because she is 'pregnant, has 
ruined thousands of constitutions ; but happily the 
practice is falling into disuse, both among physicians 
and people. Purgatives are also much abused by 
pregnant women : they are rarely necessary, as the 
bowels can generally be regulated by proper diet and 
by injections. Exercise should not be neglected by 
pregnant women, and the habits should be as active 
as the nature of the case will admit. At the same 
time excessive exertion, straining, lifting, and jolting 
should as far as possible be avoided. Women in this 
condition require more sleep than at other times. 
The mental hygiene of pregnant women is not less 
important than the physical. On account of the 
exaltation of nervous sensibility to which we have 
referred, "all objects capable of affecting the imagina- 
tion should be cautiously kept out of the way ; such 
as tragical spectacles, the sight of mutilated people, of 
the lame, and of all persons affected with loathsome 
diseases. As they are in general persuaded, however 
erroneously, that the sight of such an object may 
give rise to a similar deformity in the child in utero 
(in the womb), they are violently agitated whenever 
they meet with it. Besides, the records of disease 
are full of cases of serious disorders, as convulsions, 
hemorrhages (bleedings), and abortions (miscarriages), 
brought on by the sight of some repulsive object, by 



HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 277 

fright, by a paroxysm of anger, a fit of joy, of hate, 
of jealousy, or other acute emotion of the soul." 
Contagious and infectious diseases should also be 
guarded against by pregnant women, as some of these 
have been known to affect the unborn child. And 
the influence exerted on the child should be an ever- 
present consideration with those who are expecting 
to be mothers ; for though there are many popular 
errors as to longings, " mothers' marks," &c, there 
can be no doubt that violent mental emotions may 
arrest the proper growth of the child, and cause 
deformity ; and many examples might be adduced to 
prove that the mind and morals of the future being 
depend greatly on the state of mind and the feelings 
of the mother during pregnancy. With the view of 
impressing this more forcibly, we will merely enu- 
merate some of the evidences of maternal influence 
over character from Combe's " Constitution of Man." 
The mother of Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have 
accompanied her husband, on horseback, in his mili- 
tary expeditions, shortly before the birth of the future 
emperor. David Eizzio was violently murdered in 
the presence of Mary Queen of Scotland, shortly 
before the birth of her son James the First of Eng- 
land. This monarch was remarkable for his timidity, 
which was an exception to the family character! A 
lady writes : " From the age of two I foresaw that 
my eldest son's restlessness would ruin him ; and it 
has been even so. Yet he was kind, brave, and 
affectionate. I read the Iliad for six months before 
he saw the light. ... He was actually an Achilles!" 
Bathing should never be neglected in pregnancy. 
24 



278 HYGIENE OF PREGNANCY. 

To subdue the nervous and vascular excitement inci- 
dent to this condition, there is nothing so safe and 
effectual as cool or even cold baths. These baths 
abstract excessive heat ; equalize the circulation ; 
remove internal congestions, or accumulations of 
blood ; strengthen the whole system, and thus prepare 
it to furnish suitable elements for the development 
of the new being, and to pass safely through the 
critical time of confinement. The water need not be 
very cold, and the feelings may be safely consulted 
as to the temperature. The sponge-bath or wash- 
down is the best. The shower-bath and all applica- 
tions that produce a violent shock, are objectionable. 
Pregnant women generally bear cold water remark- 
ably well, but they cannot so well tolerate any vio- 
lent impression either on mind or body. The sponge- 
bath as prescribed should be used every day, or every 
other day, from the beginning of pregnancy ; and the 
hip-bath should be resorted to once a day during the 
last month or two. The temperature of this should 
be moderate, and it should not be continued more 
than from five to ten minutes each time. The posi- 
tion of pregnant women is a matter of no little 
importance. Those who would avoid diseases them- 
selves, and the much-dreaded " wrong positions" of 
the child, must carefully avoid bending over so as to 
compress the abdomen. Finally, we remark that we 
have been thus particular in giving directions for the 
guidance of pregnant womeif, because there is an 
incalculable amount of suffering among this class, ori- 
ginating in ignorance or thoughtlessness ; and because 
reason and observation both teach us that many, or 



HYGIENE OF PKEGNANCY. 279 

all these sufferings can be avoided by a strict observ- 
ance of the rules inculcated. One example only will 
be given from our own practice, to show the benefits 
to be derived from the course recommended. A lady 
under our charge is now pregnant with her fifth child, 
and is near her confinement. In her previous preg- 
nancies she lived after the general manner of women, 
but still much better than many. She has heretofore 
had almost all the disagreeable symptoms of pregnancy, 
which have been much aggravated by ulceration of the 
womb. She has suffered from palpitation of the heart 
■ — most distressing heart -burn — costive bowels at one 
time, and the most violent straining and bearing-down 
dysentery at another — headache — swelled legs — cramps 
in the stomach, and many other symptoms too tedious 
to mention. In her present pregnancy she has followed 
the wholesome directions above given, and she has had 
scarcely a disagreeable symptom up to this time, except 
the morning- sickness in the early part of her preg- 
nancy. It is now only a week or two to her confine- 
ment, and her bowels have been regular all the time — 
she has never been troubled with sour stomach, or heart- 
burn — her legs are now not the least swelled, and in 
short she is vigorous, lively, active, hopeful, and in the 
enjoyment of perfect health. Surely such examples as 
these, which might be multiplied, should be sufficient 
to induce women to abandon their destructive errors 
and their deep-rooted prejudices, and to yield obedience 
to the laws of health. 



280 DISEASES OF PKEGNANCY. 

CHAPTER VII, 

DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

Dropsical Swelling of the Privates. 

This is a watery collection in the cells beneath the 
skin covering the lips of the privates. It generally 
occurs during the latter months of pregnancy. It is 
almost always caused by the pressure of the womb on 
the veins, by which the free circulation of the blood 
is interrupted. The symptoms are swelling, stiffness, 
and fullness, without any particular soreness, in 
which last particular it differs from the inflammation 
of the same parts described in a preceding chapter. 

Treatment. — Bathe frequently with tepid or cold 
water; and lie clown, if the swelling becomes very 
troublesome, until it subsides. 

Discharges from the Vagina. 

The discharges occurring during pregnancy may 
be bloody, watery, or mucous. The bloody discharge 
is caused in some very rare cases, by an attempt at 
menstruation ; for though this function is suspended 
in the vast majority of women by pregnancy, yet a 
few menstruate once or twice after conception. 
This menstrual effort may be distinguished by its 
coming on at the "regular time," and by the absence 
of any disagreeable or alarming symptom. It ceases 
of itself as pregnancy advances, and requires no special 
treatment. The watery discharge is sometimes quite 
profuse, and is supposed to come from the " waters" 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 281 

inside the womb. It is not generally dangerous, unless 
there are symptoms of miscarriage ; and in the absence 
of such symptoms rest and cleanliness are all that are 
requisite. The mucous discharge is nothing more or 
less than " whites" coming from the vagina. The treat- 
ment should be conducted on the plan prescribed in 
leucorrhcea, but there should be no great haste to check 
the discharge, as it is not likely to do any harm, and 
its sudden stoppage might cause some excitement about 
the womb. The safer plan will be to use simple injec- 
tions of warm or tepid water. 

Inflammation of the Womb. 

This disease is much more common in pregnant than 
in non-pregnant women. Inflammation of the womb, 
during pregnancy, is no doubt a frequent cause of the 
"growing of the after-birth" to the inside of the womb. 
The symptoms are pretty much the same as those de- 
scribed under the head of " acute inflammation of the 
womb." The pain may be confined more to a particu- 
lar spot. The causes are bad positions, bad habits of 
living, and cold. The treatment is the same as that 
prescribed in the disease just mentioned. 

Toothache. 

This is a common symptom in pregnant women, 
occurring generally in the earlier months. With 
some, it is the first indication of conception. It 
may result from a general nervous excitement of 
the jaw through sympathy with the womb, or it may 
be produced by a decayed tooth. 

Treatment. — When the toothache is purely nerv- 
24* 



282 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

cms, it is sometimes very obstinate, and resists all our 
efforts. The best plan of treatment is to adopt a 
rigidly low diet, and to keep the bowels regulated. 
As local applications, the following may be tried : 
Chloroform, one part ; sweet oil, two parts. Mix well, 
and rub over the painful part. Or, take the whites 
of two eggs ; and common pepper, in powder, two 
ounces. Beat them well together, spread on cloth, 
and apply over the painful part. Alcohol held in the 
mouth will sometimes relieve. Should all remedies 
fail, and should the patient be very much worn down 
by pain and loss of rest, from a fourth to half a grain 
of morphine may be taken, which will generally give 
prompt, and sometimes permanent, relief. If the 
pain is evidently caused by a decayed tooth, this 
should be extracted, unless there are symptoms of 
miscarriage, or something of that kind, to prevent * 

Salivation. 

This is another symptom of pregnancy which some- 
times becomes troublesome. It is not attended with 
danger, and no attempt should be made to check it. The 
treatment should consist in observing the rules of 
health, and in washing the mouth frequently with water. 

Longings, Loss of Appetite, &c. 

In the early months of pregnancy the appetite is gene- 
erally weak; in the middle period it improves, and 
towards the last the stomach is often much disturbed in 

* When there is a predisposition to miscarriage, the drawing of a tooth, 
or any violent shock to mind or body, may bring it on. Hence the caution. 
But still, we think that the pain and loss of rest from the toothache, is 
about as likely to cause miscarriage as the extraction. 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 283 

its functions from the pressure of the womb. There is 
no end to the strange stories told as to the longings of 
women. One writer tells us of a woman who could not 
rest satisfied until she purchased a bite of a baker's 
shoulder. Another, it is said, killed her husband, made 
a meal of him, and salted the rest away. Others have 
desired spiders and other disgusting insects. And long- 
ings for chalk, ginger, spices, spirits, vinegar, &c, are 
quite common. 

Causes. — There can be but little doubt that these 
depraved appetites are caused in most cases by a disor- 
dered condition of the stomach, resulting from bad 
habits in eating. 

Treatment. — Some authorities, very absurdly as 
we think, advise the gratification of these strange 
desires, under the idea that they are natural promptings, 
and that the woman or child may be injured by not 
indulging them. We advise that they be resisted, and 
that the stomach be brought back to its senses, by 
furnishing it with proper food, and by the occasional 
use of a warm- water emetic, if the tongue is furred, 
and if there is a bad taste in the mouth. 

Sick Stomach. 

This is often one of the most distressing accompani- 
ments of pregnancy. It sometimes commences a few 
days after conception, and continues for several weeks, 
recurring every morning, and then passing off. In 
other cases it continues all day for several weeks ; and 
in a very few instances it continues during the whole 
period of pregnancy. 

Causes. — It is generally attributed to sympathy with 



284: DISEASES OF PKEGNAKCY. 

the womb, but it is no doubt often aggravated and con- 
tinued by improper eating. 

Tkeatment. — If there is distressing sick stomach 
without vomiting, the stomach should be relieved by 
drinking freely of milk-warm water until the sickness 
is allayed, or until the stomach throws off any irri- 
tating matters it may contain. After the vomiting, a 
few sips of very cold water, or small lumps of ice swal- 
lowed, will probably give relief. The hot foot-bath 
may also be used in conjunction with the above treat- 
ment. The diet should be small in quantity, especially 
in the morning, and it should be rather dry. Dr. 
Meigs advises his patients to take a cup of coffee with 
a toast sometime before rising from bed. The coffee 
may be admissible as a medicine, and may be tried. A 
great variety of medicines has been recommended in 
these troublesome cases, such as opium, prussic acid, 
&c, internally, but they should never be resorted to in 
domestic practice. A cloth may be wet with laudanum 
and applied externally over the region of the stomach, 
or a mustard plaster may be applied to the same part. 
"We have given relief by the administration of one drop of 
creasote in a teaspoonful of vinegar, weakened down with 
water. But, after all, the main reliance is to be placed 
in dieting and regulating the bowels. No more should 
be taken into the stomach than it will bear, if it is 
only a teaspoonful of milk or gruel. If the patient can 
be up, she should get out into the cool, fresh air, as 
early as possible in the morning. In the last months 
vomiting is caused, partly by the pressure of the womb 
against the stomach. In some of the difficulties from 
this source, we have seen the best effects from the cold 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 285 

hip-bath, followed by a good rubbing ; but whether the 
remedy has any effect in removing the mechanical diffi- 
culty, we are not prepared to say. The bowels, in all 
these cases, should be regulated by injections, and by 
the diet already so often prescribed. 

Heartburn. 

This is one of the most common disorders of preg- 
nancy. In the present mode of living very few escape. 
It may be proper to say that heartburn arises from a 
disordered condition of the stomach, and that the heart 
really has nothing to do with it. 

Causes. — There can be no doubt that the main cause 
is improper eating, the food being excessive in quantity 
or not of the right kind. 

Symptoms. — Heat, pain and fullness at the pit of the 
stomach, extending to the throat, and followed by sour 
belchings. 

Treatment. — If there are any offensive matters in 
the stomach, they should be neutralized or washed 
away by drinking freely of warm water. The stomach 
should then be allowed to rest for some time. Sips of 
cold water may be grateful, but even water sometimes 
sours on the stomach. An animal diet may agree 
better than a vegetable one ; and the rule should be, 
ivhenever any article is found to disagree, to leave it off. 
Women who will follow this advice will generally have 
no difficulty in getting rid of this distressing symptom. 
We have found ley hominy, with enough of the ley 
remaining on the grains of corn to give them a decided 
yellowness, an excellent article in such cases as these, 
and we can confidently recommend it, both for its 
wholesomeness and palatableness. No grease should be 



286 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

used with, the hominy. And water should not be drank 
in less than an hour after any meal. Magnesia, chalk, 
lime-water, &c, will neutralize the acid and give tem- 
porary relief; but it is better, far better, to prevent the 
accumulation of acid by a proper regulation of the diet. 

Cramp in the Stomach and Bowels. 

The symptoms of this disorder are violent cramping 
or colic pains in the stomach or bowels, or both. It 
is known as nervous colic, or " cramp of the stomach." 
The pain comes in paroxysms, with intervals of ease, 
and is relieved by pressure. 

Causes. — These are generally some error in diet, 
but in some cases the pain comes on when the stomach 
is empty. 

Treatment. — If there is any offending matter in 
the stomach, warm water should be used, as in the pre- 
ceding disorder. Should this not relieve the pain, or 
should the stomach be empty when the attack comes 
on, hot cloths should be applied over the region of the 
stomach and bowels, and frequently changed. If this 
does not give relief, a mush poultice, sprinkled with 
mustard, may be applied. While these remedies are 
being used, the feet should be placed in water as hot as 
can be borne. 

The diet should be regulated according to the rules 
already given, and particular attention should be paid 
to the bowels. 

Vomiting Blood. 

This occurs in some rare cases, and is to be treated 
mostly as other kinds of vomiting. The principal 
reliance is to be placed in swallowing small pieces of 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 287 

ice, or in sipping very cold water. Should these and 
the remedies already prescribed in vomiting fail, a 
physician should be called. 

Constipation. 

This is a very common disorder among pregnant 
women. In the early stages it is caused by a concen- 
tration of excitement on the womb ; and later, it is due 
partly to this, and partly to the pressure of the womb 
on the bowels. 

Symptoms. — These are headache, weight and un- 
easiness in the belly, and a feeling of general dis- 
comfort. The disorders of the stomach already alluded 
to, are often aggravated by this condition. In evacu- 
ating the bowels little hard balls are passed, or large 
dry masses with great straining and considerable pain. 
The discharges are sometimes mixed with mucus, or 
jelly and blood. The straining may be so great as to 
cause a miscarriage. 

Treatment. — This is such a common complication 
of almost all the disorders of pregnancy, that the treat- 
ment has been to a considerable extent anticipated 
under the preceding heads. We take this occasion to 
warn women against the constant and habitual use of 
purgative medicines ; for when the bowels become 
accustomed to them they will not act without, and it 
becomes necessary to increase constantly the size of the 
dose, or the strength of the medicines, and thus the 
bowels are continually teased and excited, which is 
about as bad as the constipation itself. The bowels 
can generally be regulated by diet and injections with- 
out the use of medicines ; and when the latter are used 



288 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

at all they should be of the mildest kind, and should 
be resorted to only to relieve some urgent symptom. 
The diet should consist mostly of corn bread, potatoes, 
ripe fruits, baked apples, stewed fruits, unbolted flour 
bread, wheaten grits, &c, &c. From a half pint to a 
pint of warm water should be thrown up the bowels 
just before each evacuation, and there should be a 
regular time for this. If purgatives are used at all, 
they should consist of magnesia, rhubarb, castor oil, 
&c. A wine-glassful of the following mixture may be 
taken every night, or every morning, according to the 
time fixed for evacuating the bowels : Epsom salts, 
one ounce ; cream of tartar, two drachms ; boiling water, 
two pints. This may be kept in a bottle, and is an 
excellent artificial mineral water and laxative. If pills 
be preferred the following may be taken : Compound 
extract of colocynth, two scruples ; castile soap, half a 
drachm; oil anise, cinnamon, or cloves, two drops. 
Make eight pills with syrup. Dose, two or three as 
above. 

Piles. 

This is another very troublesome affection, and is 
generally occasioned or much aggravated by the con- 
stipation of which we have just been speaking. 

The treatment consists in attention to the bowels, 
and in frequently bathing the fundament in cold' water. 
These baths should be short, and should be repeated 
whenever there is much pain or uneasiness. It is 
better to evacuate the bowels just before retiring at 
night ; and after bathing the piles should always be 
pushed up, and kept up, if possible. 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 289 



Looseness of the Bowels. 

This is a comparatively rare affection, and generally 
requires but little treatment. Strict attention to the 
diet,* which should be very light ; small injections of 
cold water, and a wet bandage to the abdomen — cold 
or warm, according to the degree of heat — will generally 
be sufficient. If any medicine be needed, the follow- 
ing may be safely taken : Prepared chalk, a tea-spoon- 
ful; loaf-sugar, the same quantity — mix together and 
dissolve in ginger tea, and repeat as often as necessary. 
Toward the termination of pregnancy there is some- 
times a dysenteric affection, attended with violent bear- 
ing-down and straining. This should be treated by 
injections of a very small quantity of cold water before 
each evacuation, and a short cold hip-bath after the 
evacuation, to be followed by a good rubbing, as pre- 
scribed in whites. The downward pressure should be 
avoided by lying down until the irritation of the 
bowels subsides. If the above remedies fail, twenty 
drops of laudanum, mixed with two tea-spoonfuls of 
starch, may be thrown up the bowel. 

Palpitation of the Heart. 

Almost all pregnant women suffer more or less from 
this disorder, on account of the extraordinary excite- 
ment to which the system is subjected by the wonder- 
ful processes going on within; but, like many other 
affections, it is caused as much by bad habits as by the 

* Rice is the very best diet in all such cases. 
25 T 



290 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

peculiar condition of the system. The exciting CAUSES 
are generally mental emotion, and disordered stomach 
and bowels from improper eating. 

Symptoms. — Violent action of the heart, a kind of 
fluttering, with an anxious choking sensation. The 
heart not unfrequently loses a beat, and then thumps 
quick and hard. 

Treatment. — This should consist in a strict avoid- 
ance of all exciting causes, and especially those men- 
tioned. The attack can generally be relieved by bathing 
the feet in hot water, and by placing a cloth wet with 
cold water over the heart. When it comes on in the 
last months, it is sometimes caused by the crowding 
upward of the womb ; in such cases as these we have 
seen great relief from short cold hip-baths. If the general 
health is feeble, it should be reinvigorated by pursuing 
the plan prescribed in green sickness. Preparations of 
iron are excellent where there is much debility, but 
where the habit is full they should not be used. In 
such cases as these the diet should be very light, and 
as much exercise should be taken as the nature of the 
case will allow. 

Fainting Fits. 

These sometimes occur in very nervous women, par- 
ticularly at the period of quickening. The causes are 
very much the same as those mentioned under the pre- 
ceding head. 

Symptoms. — Stoppage of the pulse, very feeble 
breathing, and loss of sensibility, but no spasmodic 
movements. 

Treatment. — Apply vinegar and carbonate of am- 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 291 

monia (smelling salts) to the nose, sprinkle cold water 
in the face, and bathe the feet in hot water, rubbing 
well afterwards with warm flannel, or with the warm 
hand. Air should be freely admitted, and care should 
be taken not to hold the stimulants to the nose too 
long; they should be applied only a short time, and 
then removed, and then re-applied. Persons should 
not crowd around the patient. All exciting causes 
must of course be avoided as far as possible, and 
the general health should be attended to, as directed 
under the head of palpitation. Never raise the patient 
up when the fit is on, but always lay her down. 

Cough, and Difficulty of Breathing. 

Difficulty of breathing occurs most commonly during 
the latter months, and is caused by the upward pressure 
of the womb, by which the lungs are crowded and 
compressed. In the earlier stages of pregnancy, it is 
caused sometimes by plethora (too much blood), or by 
mental emotion, errors in diet, great nervousness, &c. 

Treatment. — If the patient is feeble and nervous, 
the general treatment for the restoration of the health 
should be pursued. If there be excessive fullness 
(plethora), this should be reduced by a very low diet, 
by pretty active exercise, and by the warm bath, or 
warm wet-sheet pack. The latter should be used from 
a half hour to an hour and a half each time, and should 
be repeated as often as it seems to be necessary. In 
all cases the bowels should be kept regular, and all 
exciting causes, such as tight dresses, excessive eating, 
&c, should be avoided. When the difficulty is caused 



292 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

by upward pressure, short cold hip-baths,* followed by 
friction, will often give great relief. The cough, that 
sometimes accompanies the difficulty of breathing, and 
sometimes occurs independently of it, is generally 
caused by nervous excitement in the early stages, and 
by pressure in the latter months. "When nervous, it 
should be treated by hot foot-baths, warm cloths to the 
chest, and warm wet-sheet packs, or warm baths. Should 
the cough be very violent, so as to threaten miscarriage, 
or should it not yield to the above treatment, a physi- 
cian should be consulted ; in the mean time slippery- 
elm water may be used, and a teaspoonful of paregoric 
may be taken. The cough caused by pressure is best 
relieved by a very light diet, by hot foot and tepid or 
warm hip-baths. 

The cough is sometimes attended with spitting of 
blood. In such cases as these, cold cloths should be 
applied to the chest, cold acid drinks, as lemonade, 
vinegar and water, &c, should be taken internally, the 
feet should be bathed in hot water, and a physician 
should be sent for. 

Sleeplessness. 

This is sometimes a very troublesome accompani- 
ment of pregnancy, and is caused by the peculiar con- 
dition of the system, which is often aggravated by 
mental emotion, excessive eating, want of exercise, 
close rooms, &c. 



* When there is any suspicion that the cough or difficulty of breathing 
is not a mere effect of the pregnancy, but symptoms of actual disease of 
the lungs, a physician should be consulted, before resorting to any kind 
of cold application. 



DISEASES OF PKEGNANCY. 293 

Treatment. — Sponge the body all over in cool, 
cold, or tepid water, according to the feelings, just 
before going to bed. The wet-sheet pack, or the gene- 
ral warm bath, by their soothing effects, are excellent 
in these cases. It is said that simply wrapping a wet 
towel around the hand will sometimes succeed. Warm 
foot-baths have also a very happy effect in many cases. 
Yery light suppers should be taken, the sleeping apart- 
ment should be well aired, and opiates should not be 
taken, except by the advice of a physician. And 
indeed this will very seldom be necessary, if the above 
directions be followed. 

Low Spirits. 

Pregnant women, from the peculiar condition of their 
brain and nerves, are very prone to indulge in gloomy 
forebodings, and their mental troubles are often much 
increased by bad habits of living, and by the awful 
rehearsals and the sad prognostications of ignorant old 
women. And, in the eloquent language of Dr. Mont- 
gomery, " how deplorable, then, must be the condition 
of the mind in a woman, who, led astray by the profli- 
gate from virtue's paths of pleasantness and peace, 
and then abandoned, is compelled to consider her preg- 
nancy a curse, instead of a blessing, and has, in addi- 
tion to the ordinary troubles of that state, to bear up 
against the agony of disappointed hopes, of affections 
misplaced and cruelly misused, to endure the present 
scorn of society, and the anticipation of a still-increas- 
ing shame, for which she is to find no ' sweet oblivious 
antidote,' of power to 'pluck from the memory a rooted 
sorrow,' or ' raze out the written troubles of the brain f 
25* 



294 DISEASES OF PBEGNANCY. 

No wonder that such poor unfortunates as these should 
die of madness and convulsions ! 

Tkeatment. — The bodily health should be attended 
to according to the directions so often given ; and the 
mind should be hopeful and cheerful under the full 
conviction that all will be well, if the laws of health 
be observed. Let all idle fears and forebodings be 
banished ; live right, trust God, and take comfort from 
the thought that not one woman in 'ten thousand, who 
will do thus, will die from the diseases of pregnancy 
and child-bed. 

Headache. 

This very common disorder is generally caused by 
mental emotion, costive bowels, and excessive eating 
and drinking. It is to be treated by avoiding these 
causes, and all others that are known, — by using hot foot 
baths, and by pouring cold water on the head, if there 
is any unusual heat. If there is much fullness of 
habit, the wet-sheet pack or warm bath (cold being 
applied to the head and warmth to the feet at the same 
time) will be found highly useful. When the pain in 
the head comes on just before confinement it is a 
threatening of convulsions, and should be met by cold 
to the head, a very low, unstimulating diet, fresh air, 
and exercise, if the condition will admit of the last. 
By attention to these simple directions, headache may 
almost always be avoided or relieved. In nervous 
headache, and sick headache, the following mixture is 
very good, but avoidance of the causes is better. Take 
salts of hartshorn, ten grains; powdered valerian 
root, twenty grains, or oil of valerian, ten drops ; cin- 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 295 

namon water, or ginger tea, two ounces. Mix and 
take one half, and the other half in fifteen minutes, if 
the first does not relieve. If tea is used, it should be 
cold when the medicine is added. 

Hysteric Fits. 

It is a very common opinion among the people that 
" hysterics" is only an imaginary disease, that it has no 
actual existence, and therefore many women, knowing 
that they are diseased, become offended when they are 
told that they have " nothing but hysterics." Some- 
times the state of excitement thus produced acts bene- 
ficially, but it is as likely to do harm as good ; and it 
should be known that hysterics is as real a disease as 
small-pox or measles, and that the unfortunate subjects 
of this disorder, instead of being treated with ridicule 
and contempt, should receive our tenderest care and 
sympathy. Women of every age, and even some men, 
are liable to hysteric fits; but they occur most fre- 
quently during the menstrual life, and appear generally 
to be connected with some excitement or derangement 
of the womb. Hence, we might not unreasonably 
infer that these attacks would not be very infrequent 
in pregnancy, when we take into consideration the 
extraordinary changes going on in the womb. And 
such is even the case ; for, while there is nothing about 
pregnancy that must necessarily cause hysterics, the 
exciting causes are abundant, in the present mode of 
living. 

Causes. — These are so numerous, as just intimated, 
that we can only mention the principal. They are, a 
nervous temperament, idleness, effeminacy, menstrual 



296 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

disorders, as suppression, difficult menstruation, 
"change of life," &c; sexual abuses, mental excite- 
ment, as fear, anger, disappointment, &c. ; and particu- 
larly that kind of excitement caused by reading lascivi- 
ous books, and witnessing licentious scenes. To these 
causes may be added excessive eating and sleeping, the 
use of opium and tobacco ; stimulating drinks, as spi- 
rits, tea, and coffee ; the abuse of purgatives ; and many 
other abuses, too common in these modern days of ener- 
vating refinements, might be mentioned. 

Symptoms. — The symptoms of this disorder are as 
numerous as the causes ; indeed, there is scarcely a 
disease in the whole catalogue which may not be 
counterfeited by it. We only give the most common 
form. The attack sometimes comes on suddenly, but 
is generally preceded by a feeling of oppression, and 
indescribable uneasiness and anxiety ; to these general 
symptoms may be added chilliness, flashes of heat, 
headache, cramps, and great fickleness of disposition, 
manifested by crying and laughing immoderately and 
"without sufficient cause. The paroxysm, or actual 
hysteric Jit, is generally marked by the following 
symptoms : At the commencement of the fit the 
patient feels chilly, the pulse flutters ; sometimes there 
is an acute pain in the head, as if some sharp body 
were driven into it ; but the most invariable symptom 
is an uneasy feeling in the abdomen, as if something 
were rolling about ; this gradually extends upwards to 
the throat, causing a disagreeable choking sensation, 
and a feeling of impending suffocation. The rising 
of this "ball" is accompanied by a feeling of weight 
and uneasiness at the pit of the stomach. With these 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 297 

symptoms are generally associated fainting fits and 
convulsive movements : the body is twisted backward 
and forward, the hands are clenched, the limbs are 
violently tossed about, the patient beats her breasts, 
tears her hair, screams, and acts like a crazy woman, 
as she is for the time. The paroxysm is generally 
terminated by a violent fit of crying, laughing, scream- 
ing, or low muttering, stupor, belching of wind, and a 
large discharge of clear urine. Gradually she reco- 
vers, and the system returns to its former condition. 

Treatment. — During the paroxysm or fit, the 
patient should be laid down, with her head over the 
side of the bed, and cold water should be freely poured 
on until she revives. At the same time warm appli- 
cations should be made to the feet, if she can be kept 
still enough, or the feet and legs may be well rubbed 
with the hand. Eubbing along the backbone is also 
of much advantage. The temples may likewise be 
bathed in cologne water, vinegar, spirits, or hartshorn, 
but the cold water will generally be sufficient of itself 
to terminate the fit. It is hardly necessary to add 
that all tight clothing should be loosed, and that 
garters, stays, and everything of the kind should be 
removed. During the intervals between the attacks 
all the causes should be avoided, the patient should 
enjoy pure air and bright sunshine, should exercise, 
and in short should follow all the directions for bracing 
up and restoring the general health. The general 
treatment recommended in green sickness will be 
appropriate in pregnancy ; and if the fits are attended 
with menstrual derangements, these should be treated 
according to the plan laid down under the appro- 



298 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

priate head. (See " Stoppage of the Courses," and 
other Menstrual Derangements.) 

Convulsions in Pregnancy. 

These are different from hysteric fits, and are more 
dangerous. 

Causes. — Many of the causes mentioned under the 
preceding head, may predispose to convulsions; but 
the immediate and direct cause seems to be a rush of 
blood to the head. 

Varieties. — There are two kinds of convulsions 
occurring in pregnancy and child-bed : the epileptic, 
or spasmodic; and the apoplectic, or stupid. 

Symptoms of the epileptic form. — Generally the fit 
is preceded by pain in the head, giddiness, confusion 
of thought, ringing in the ears, temporary loss of 
sight, sick stomach, &c. These convulsions are dis- 
tinguished from hysteric fits by the following symp- 
toms : there is total loss of consciousness, frothing at 
the mouth, flushing of the face, and more violent 
spasms, which come on more frequently, with only a 
partial return of sensibility. In epileptic spasms the 
laughing and crying of hysterics are never seen. 

Symptoms of the apoplectic form. — This form gene- 
rally occurs in labor. There is really but little spasm 
or convulsion connected with it. The body may be 
agitated for a short time, when the fit first comes on, 
but this agitation, if present, is soon followed by a 
deep stupor, attended with perfect insensibility, and 
a noisy snoring breathing. The muscles are relaxed, 
and the limbs fall about when moved. 

Treatment. — So far as domestic practice is con- 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 299 

cerned in these formidable affections, it should consist 
more in the preventive than the curative. Strict atten- 
tion should be paid to the state of the body and mind, 
all exciting causes should be avoided, and if there are 
any of the threatening symptoms described, cold water 
should be poured freely on the head, to be followed 
by a thin cloth, wet with cold water, to the same part, 
and hot water to the feet. If these measures do not 
give speedy relief, a skillful physician should be sent 
for immediately. The diet should be very light in these 
cases : it should consist only of gruel, rice water, and 
toast-water. Threatening symptoms about the head just 
"before confinement should never be neglected. 

Pains in the Breasts. 

These pains may be purely nervous, or they may 
be caused by some degree of inflammation in the 
breasts or milk glands. They are caused through 
sympathy with the womb. If of a nervous character, 
they will be relieved by applying warm cloths to the 
breasts; and if there is heat or feverishness about 
the breasts, equal relief will be afforded by the 
application of cold cloths, frequently changed. The 
breasts may also be bathed in warm laudanum. The 
bowels should not be neglected. 

Relaxation of the Abdomen and Ruptures. 

From the great distension and relaxation of the 
muscles of the abdomen in pregnancy, the bowels 
sometimes protrude through openings, constituting 
hernia or rupture. This protrusion most commonly 
occurs at the navel, or at the natural openings near the 
groins. 



300 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

Symptoms. — A soft tumor in some part of the abdo- 
men, which may generally be pushed back ; but should 
it become strangulated or bound, so that the bowels 
cannot act, there will be tenderness of the swelling, 
with vomiting and obstinate constipation. 

Treatment. — In the cases last described, a physi- 
cian should be sent for. If the tumor can be pushed 
back, this should be done, and then a bandage should 
be applied to prevent its return. If the protrusion is 
at the navel, or any place in the upper part of the 
abdomen, a thin plate of sheet-lead or circular piece of 
adhesive plaster may be placed over it before the 
bandage is applied. For the relaxation which results 
in great looseness of the skin, constituting " pendulous 
belly," there is nothing equal to frequent sponging 
of the abdomen with cold water, followed by friction. 
This gives strength and resistance to the muscles, 
prevents the deformity of great folds in the skin of 
the abdomen, and relieves other unpleasant conse- 
quences of pregnancy, as we shall see hereafter. 

Inability to hold the Urine. 

This distressing affection may result from great irri- 
tability about the bladder, but it is not unfrequently 
caused by the pressure of the womb on the bladder. 

The symptoms are a dribbling away of the urine, 
and an inability to hold the water any length of time. 

Treatment. — This should consist in warm hip- 
baths to soothe the irritation of the bladder; cold 
sponging of the abdomen to strengthen its muscles, 
and thus to keep the womb up so that it will not press 
so much on the bladder. If these means fail, which 
they will seldom do, the womb may be supported by 



DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 301 

a bandage around the lower part of the belly, while 
the other remedies are still used. 

Difficulty in passing Water. 

In this affection, which is exactly opposite to the 
one just described, there is pain, straining, and some- 
times a total inability to pass the water. The accumu- 
lation in the bladder is very dangerous in the early 
months of pregnancy, as it may cause the womb to 
fall backwards and become wedged down beneath the 
prominence at the lower part of the back-bone. 

Treatment. — The warm hip-bath should be used, 
as in the preceding affection ; and if the water cannot 
then be passed, this should be followed immediately 
by the application of cold cloths to the lower part of 
the abdomen, or the cold hip-bath. The sponging and 
bandage may also be used, and care should always be 
taken not to suffer any large accumulation in the 
bladder, by attending to the first solicitations of 
nature. If the above means fail, a physician should 
be sent for immediately to draw off the water with a 
tube or catheter. 

Cramps in various Parts. 

Pregnant women are liable to cramping pains in 
the abdomen, back, legs, &c. 

They are caused partly by pressure, partly by nervous 
irritability, and often no doubt by bad habits of living. 

Symptoms. — Violent drawing or stitch pains in the 
abdomen, back, or legs, coming on by spells. Some- 
times there is a strong contraction or drawing of the 
muscles. 

Treatment. — Pay strict attention to all the laws 
26 



302 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

of health, and rub the painful parts well with the 
hand ; or with a flannel moistened in warm spirits of 
turpentine. When the legs are attacked at night, it 
is best for the patient to get out of bed as soon as 
possible and stand on the feet, actively rubbing the 
painful muscles. 

Enlarged Veins. 

These are generally seen in the legs, and are caused 
by the pressure of the womb, which prevents the free 
return of blood towards the heart. 

Symptoms. — The veins may be plainly seen in the 
form of knots under the skin ; the legs are much in- 
clined to swell, and sores on them are very hard to heal. 

Treatment. — The woman should not be too much 
on her feet. The abdomen and legs should be sponged 
with cold water, and rubbed at least twice a day. But 
care should be taken not to break the skin in rubbing 
the legs. The rubbing and sponging of the abdomen 
seems to strengthen the muscles, so that they hold up 
the womb and prevent the pressure on the veins 
which run upward from the legs. However the 
effect may be explained, we have succeeded by these 
simple measures in preventing enlarged veins and 
swelled legs in those who had previously been much 
troubled in this way. Laced stockings and bandages 
have been prescribed, but they should not often be 
resorted to without the advice and assistance of a 
physician : for if improperly applied, they will do more 
harm than good. 

Swelled Legs. 

This is a watery or dropsical swelling, caused in 
the same way as the preceding affection. 



DISEASES OF PEEGNANCY. 303 

The symptoms are plain; and the teeatment is 
the same as in enlarged veins. 

Besides the dropsical swelling of the legs, there is 
sometimes a general swelling of the body, or an accu- 
mulation of water in the belly or chest, or all may 
exist together. Such cases as these require the atten- 
tion of a physician. 

Abortion, or Miscarriage. 

When the child is thrown off before the sixth 
month, it is called a miscarriage or abortion — after 
this time — premature labor. 

Causes. — Miscarriages are caused by the death or 
diseased condition of the child, or some natural or 
accidental condition of the mother. Some feeble, 
delicate women seem to be constitutionally prone to 
this accident from " inward weakness." In such as 
these it may be brought on by very slight causes, and 
women thus predisposed often get into a habit of mis- 
carrying about the same time in each pregnancy. 
This "inward weakness" is really whites, or at any 
rate, the weakness and the whites are often associated. 
The exciting causes of abortion are blows, falls, 
straining, excessive sexual indulgence, strong mental 
emotions, &c, &c. 

Symptoms. — A feeling of weariness, with aching in 
the back, generally precedes miscarriage. After these 
symptoms have continued for an indefinite period, and 
sometimes without them, symptoms of labor come on. 
These are a pain in the back, running around to the 
lower part of the abdomen and down the thighs. 
These pains are not constant, but they come on by 
spells, and they are attended sooner or later by a 



304 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 

bearing-down sensation, and a discharge of mucus or 
blood from the privates. In some cases there is 
scarcely any pain — the woman goes out to attend to 
the calls of nature, perhaps, and is suddenly taken 
with flooding, which is soon followed by the expul- 
sion of the child. We have seen such cases as these. 
The child may be passed with all its coverings, or the 
latter may remain for some time after the child is 
expelled. The great danger in abortion is from 
flooding. 

Treatment. — As long as there is any hope of suc- 
ceeding, attempts should be made to prevent the mis- 
carriage. To accomplish this end, the patient should 
be put immediately to bed. She should be placed on 
a mattress, and never on a feather-bed. The foot of 
the bedstead should be made a little higher than the 
head, by placing blocks of wood under the legs. The 
room should have a free circulation of air, and the 
bed- covering should be light. If these measures fail 
to stop the pain and flooding, cold wet cloths should 
be applied to the lower part of the abdomen and be- 
tween the thighs ; and these should be changed every 
two or three minutes, if the flooding is profuse. 
Should these external means fail, a short cold hip- 
bath should be used, and then the coldest water should 
be thrown up the vagina (opening to the womb) with 
a common womb-syringe.* Cold injections into the 
bowels will also be very useful, and especially if there 
is any accumulation in the lower part of the bowels. 

* Should the patient be very much reduced from loss of blood, the hip- 
bath may be omitted, lest bad consequences should ensue from the effort 
in getting up. 



DISEASES OF PKEGNANCY. 305 

If all these remedies fail, and if the bleeding is very 
free, it should be held in check by pushing a silk 
handkerchief up the vagina, while a physician is sent 
for. The tampon, as this stopping up is called, is a 
safe and very effectual remedy, and may be used by 
any one of ordinary intelligence without the least 
risk.* The handkerchief is to be gently pushed up, 
a piece at a time, until the vagina is filled. If the 
pain and bearing-down are very severe, twenty drops 
of laudanum may be taken. All the drinks should 
be cold; and acid drinks, as vinegar, lemonade, &c, 
are grateful and tend to check the flooding. Women 
who are subject to whites, should pursue the treat- 
ment prescribed under that head ; and those who are 
prone to miscarry from this or any other cause, 
should be very prudent in all their habits, particu- 
larly about the time that the accident generally hap- 
pens, which is oftenest from the third to the sixth 
month. "Women who have contracted this unfortu- 
nate habit should very cautiously guard against all 
excitement, mental and bodily ; they should wear 
loose dresses ; they should avoid all stimulating food 
and drinks, particularly tea and coffee. Moderate exer- 
cise should be taken in the open air ; but rest on a 
sofa or mattress is a powerful preventive, and should 
be resorted to if there is the least threatening about the 
time the accident usually occurs. In addition to 
these means, the body should be sponged daily with 
cold water, followed by friction, and a short hip-bath 
should be used once a day, as directed in whites. 

* It should not be used, however, until all hope of preventing miscar- 
riage is past. 

26* U 



306 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY. 



False Conceptions, Moles, or Blighted Concep- 
tions. 

These are generally shapeless masses of a fleshy 
appearance. They are caused by a blight or arrest 
of development in the child in the early stages of 
pregnancy. 

The symptoms resemble very much those of ordi- 
nary pregnancy. 

Treatment. — Should their expulsion be attended 
with flooding, it is to be treated on the plan prescribed 
in miscarriage. No attempts should be made at their 
removal, except by the advice of a physician; for 
nature will generally accomplish her own work with- 
out our assistance, and there is really but little 
danger except from flooding. In concluding the 
subject of miscarriage, &c, it may be proper to add 
that abortion cannot be prevented when the pain 
and flooding have been sufficiently great to loosen 
the connection between the child and the womb ; and 
in such cases the only effectual plan of checking the 
flooding is to hasten the expulsion; therefore, when 
the bleeding continues in spite of the remedies pro- 
scribed, the farther management of the case should be 
committed to a physician without delay. 



PART FOURTH. 

MIDWIFERY AND DISEASES OF CHILD-BED. 

" MEDDLESOME MIDWIFERY IS BAD." NATURE CAN GENERALLY PER- 
FORM HER OWN WORK WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF ART. WHEN 

AID IS REQUIRED, IT IS ALL-IMPORTANT THAT IT SHOULD BE 
RENDERED AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND IN THE RIGHT WAY: — A 
SINGLE FALSE MOVE, OR A MOMENT'S DELAY, MAY SEAL THE FATE 
OF MOTHER, OR CHILD, OR BOTH. — THEREFORE, NONE BUT THE 
MOST SKILLFUL SHOULD BE TRUSTED TN THE PRACTICE OF MID- 
WIFERY. 



(307) 



CHAPTER I. 
OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB. 

In medical books, the child before birth, is com- 
monly called a foetus, and we may find it convenient 
to use this term occasionally. 

Mode of Attachment, &c. — The foetus is en- 
veloped in a thin membranous covering, commonly 
known as the " membranes;" and these membranes 
are filled with water, in which the child floats. 
The union between the mother and child is effected 
by means of the placenta, or after-birth, and the navel 
cord. The after-birth is a fleshy mass, which is 
attached to some part of the inner surface of the 
womb ; and from this after-birth extends the cord to 
the navel of the child. Through this cord pass the 
arteries and vein by which a communication is estab- 
lished between the mother and foetus. The blood of 
the child, in passing through the after-birth, under- 
goes a change similar to that effected by the lungs in 
persons who breathe ; and at the same time it receives 
nutritive matters, which have been absorbed by the 
after-birth from the mother. There are other pecu- 



* For a description of the bony parts, or pelvis, through which the child 
must pass, see " Sexual Anatomy and Physiology." 

(309) 



310 OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB. 

liarities in the foetal circulation, but it might be too 
tedious to describe them. 

Diseases of the Foetus. — The child in the womb 
is liable to almost all the diseases to which it is sub- 
ject after birth. Children have been born with small- 
pox, measles, and various other skin diseases — with 
consumption, inflammations, &c, &c. From the inti- 
mate connection between the mother and her unborn 
child, the latter is very liable to be affected by any- 
thing that may make a strong impression on her, and 
hence, pregnant women who would give birth to 
healthy children, should carefully guard against all 
causes of disease and excitement. The mind of the 
mother has a very powerful influence over the foetus, 
and strong mental emotions of any kind may arrest 
its development, causing deformity or death. It may 
be proper, however, to add that the resemblance of 
the deformed child to the object causing the deformity 
is generally imaginary. 

Signs of the Death of the Fcetus. — These are 
rather obscure. They are said to be a sudden cessa- 
tion of the movements of the child in the womb; 
shrinking of the breasts ; looseness, and sinking in of 
the muscles of the abdomen, &c. The death of the 
child is not usually attended with any great daager 
to the mother ; and the subject has been introduced 
to reassure those who are prone to indulge in gloomy 
apprehensions, on account of the real or imaginary 
death of the child in the womb. As no air can enter 
the cavity in which the child is contained, decomposi- 
tion does not take place very rapidly, and the dead 



OF LABOR-PAINS. 311 

child is generally expelled, after an uncertain interval, 
with pains a little heavier than those experienced in 
giving birth to a living child. 



CHAPTEE II. 
OF LABOR-PAINS. 



Are these pains unavoidable ? — Labor-pains are 
cansed by the contractions of the womb ; and as the 
child cannot be born without these contractions, it 
would seem to follow that some pain is a necessary and 
unavoidable attendant on child-birth. But it should 
be remembered that the contractions of the womb are 
not really and necessarily painful in themselves, and 
that the pain is mainly due to the pressure and dis- 
tension to which the parts are subjected. Now, while 
we are not prepared to assume that a child can be 
born in all cases without a single pang, we do most 
certainly know, from reason, personal observation, 
and recorded facts, that women can be delivered with 
very little pain. Labor is universally admitted to be 
a healthy, natural process, and not a disease. Now, 
when the body is in a sound, healthy condition, when 
all the organs perform their functions properly, every 
natural act is attended with pleasure, rather than pain ; 
and this is particularly true of the expulsive processes. 
In proof of this, it is only necessary to mention the 
pleasurable sensations experienced in emptying the 
bowels and bladder, when all is right. On the con- 



312 OF LABOR-PAINS. 

trary, how painful these acts when disease is present I 
While all civilized child-bearing women cannot be 
said to be in a state of actual open disease, there can- 
not be a shadow of doubt that the habits of civilized 
life tend to derange the whole body, and especially 
the nervous system, thus rendering women preterna- 
turally susceptible to pain. This position is amply 
confirmed by comparing the effects of child-bearing 
in civilized and savage life. Among the Indians, and 
other savage tribes, there is really no lying-in. In- 
dian women "fall behind for a little, on their journeys 
through the forests, deliver themselves, and shortly 
make up to their husbands, and continue their jour- 
ney with their offspring on their back." Among the 
South American Indians, " a mother, immediately on 
her delivery, takes her child, and going down to the 
nearest stream of water, washes herself and it, and 
returns to the usual labors of her station." And even 
in civilized life, the pains and dangers of child-birth 
are diminished in proportion as women approach 
plain, healthful, natural habits of living. Those in 
moderate circumstances, who are equally removed 
from the depressing influences of extreme poverty 
and the enervating, destructive indulgences purchased 
by wealth, have easier labors and quicker recoveries 
than either of the extremes of society; while the 
poorest are generally better off in these respects than 
the pampered daughters of idleness and luxury. 
Hence, the negro women of the Southern States, who 
are compelled to lead an active life, and to live on 
plain food, while their minds are undisturbed by cor- 
roding cares, have much easier labors, and are much 



OF LABOK-PAINS. 313 

less exposed to the accidents of child-bed than their 
mistresses. These facts, with many others that might 
be adduced, go to prove that great suffering and a 
long lying-in are not the absolute, unavoidable, and 
natural accompaniments of child-birth. And as Na- 
ture is uniform in her operations, if it can be proved 
that many women have been delivered with little or 
no pain, or if it can be established that one woman 
even, in a sound, natural condition, has been thus deli- 
vered, the conclusion is inevitable that the same great 
boon is attainable by the whole race — by all women 
not deformed. Well, we have the most incontroverti- 
ble evidence that some women, at least, have been 
delivered without pain, when free from any artificial 
or stupefying influence whatever ; while the brain was 
wide awake and active, and all the nerves fully alive 
and sensitive. Is it too much to say, then, that all 
well-formed women, by a strict observance of the laws 
of health, might have painless and safe deliveries ? 
But, then — that curse — that dreadful cukse, — " In sor- 
row thou shalt bring forth children" J To this we answer 
that the natural laws were perfect and unchangeable 
from the beginning ; that they were instituted before 
the fall of man, and that they were not changed in a 
single " jot or tittle" by the fall ; and that man's rela- 
tion only to those laws was altered by his sin ; the 
laws themselves remaining as fixed and as immutable 
as their Maker. Therefore, whenever men and women 
cease to transgress the natural laws of their organism 
— whenever they, by obedience to those laws, place 
themselves in proper relation to them, then they are 
visited with blessings, and not with curses. Man, by 
27 S 



314 OF LABOR-PAINS. 

placing himself in proper relation to the law of labor 
imposed after the fall — by diligence and industry reaps 
blessings innumerable : so woman, by placing herself 
in due relation to the law of conception — by obedience 
to the laws of health, may be blessed with freedom 
from pain, in fulfilling the great command to " multi- 
ply and replenish the earth." "We regard the penalty 
inflicted on Eve as a personal one, for her individual 
transgression, while all other women are blessed or 
cursed, according to their obedience or disobedience 
to the natural laws, which were unalterably fixed 
before the fall. We trust that we will be excused for 
enlarging so much on this question, for, surely, it is 
one of the very highest interest to every woman. 
Could the erroneous notions on this subject be re- 
moved — could women be convinced that there is even 
a bare possibility of escaping the much-dreaded pains 
and perils of child-bed, we cannot believe that they 
would longer remain satisfied in ignorance, supinely 
submitting to the multiplied evils to which they are 
now exposed, and regarding them as necessary and 
unavoidable — as a righteous infliction of Heaven on 
woman for the transgression of the frail mother of 
mankind. And surely, surely, if the veil of igno- 
rance could be removed, if women could be convinced 
that freedom from the pangs and dangers of child- 
birth could be purchased by obedience to the laws of 
health, they would not knowingly and willfully sub- 
ject themselves to the sufferings to which they are 
exposed in the present state of things. We can only 
refer those who are thus convinced and who would 



NATURAL LABOR. 315 

act in accordance with these convictions, to the hygi- 
enic parts of this work, and particularly to the 
" Hygiene of Pregnancy." 



CHAPTEK III. 
NATURAL LABOR. 



What is Natural Labor? — This question may 
be answered by saying, that all labors are natural that 
are terminated by the unaided efforts of nature. But 
writers generally apply the term "natural" to those 
cases in which the head "presents," or comes down 
first. It should be known, however, that the coming 
down of the feet, knees, or breech of the child, is not 
necessarily attended with any very great difficulty or 
danger, so far as the mother is concerned. The natu- 
ral presentations occur in the vast majority of cases, 
and mothers may therefore take consolation from the 
fact that there is not, perhaps, more than one chance 
in a thousand for them to have one of the much- 
dreaded "cross-births," or wrong presentations. 

The Presenting Part. — Presentation, in mid- 
wifery, means the part of the child that comes down 
and engages in the opening, or mouth of the womb. 
In most cases the head presents, which is the most 
favorable position. This part can generally be distin- 
guished by a little experience, and all women should 
endeavor to inform themselves on this point, so that 
they may know when all is right, or when assistance 



316 NATURAL LABOE. 

is necessary. The head may be known by its round- 
ness, its hardness, and by the soft place between the 
bones called the " mould of the head." A few exami- 
nations will be worth more in determining the pre- 
sentation than a whole volume of descriptions ; and, 
as before intimated, there is no great difficulty in this, 
provided the mouth of the womb is considerably 
open ; yet it is proper to add that it is not near so 
easy as most people suppose, when only a small point 
of the child can be touched with the tip of the finger. 
Those who are unacquainted with such things seem 
to think that it is the easiest thing in the world to tell 
which end of a child comes foremost, and therefore 
they are often inclined to underrate a physician's 
knowledge because he cannot always answer their 
eager inquiries on his first examination. Head cases 
will generally terminate without any assistance, if 
there is nothing wrong on the part of the mother ; 
and the same may be said of cases where the feet, 
knees, or breech of the child comes down first. But 
as the danger of losing the child is great in these 
cases, a physician should always be called as soon as 
they are discovered. 

Time for Labor. — This important and highly 
interesting process generally commences about nine 
calendar months, or two hundred and seventy or 
eighty days from the time of the last appearance of 
the " courses." 

The time may be very closely approximated as fol- 
lows : Suppose that a woman begins to menstruate on 
the 12th April, and menstruates four days ; from 12th 
April to 12th January is nine months ; now add four 



NATURAL LABOR. 317 

days for the time in which menstruation was going 
on, and it gives 16th January; and confinement may 
be looked for within eight days from this time, that 
is, from 16th to 24th of the month of January. 

Causes of Labor. — The efficient cause of labor is 
the contractions of the womb ; and these contractions 
are assisted by the voluntary or bearing-down efforts 
of the woman, in which the muscles of the abdomen, 
&c, are brought into action. 

Symptoms of Approaching Labor. — Labor some- 
times comes on suddenly, without any warning ; but 
nature generally gives sufficient intimation of the 
wonder she is about to perform. The womb settles 
down for several days beforehand, and this relieves 
the crowding of the stomach and lungs : many, or all 
the dyspeptic symptoms vanish, if they had pre- 
viously existed ; the breathing is easier, and the wo- 
man feels lighter and better. But while the stomach 
and lungs are relieved by the descent of the womb, 
the bladder and lower bowels are more pressed upon; 
and hence there is a frequent desire to pass water, 
with inability to retain much in the bladder : the 
bowels are troubled with griping and straining in 
evacuating them, while the discharges are generally 
small. Another common symptom is painless con- 
tractions of the womb ; these are attended with a 
squeezing, drawing sensation, but with no particular 
pain. The immediate forerunner of actual labor is 
generally a pretty free mucous discharge from the 
womb, called a " show." As the labor progresses, this 
becomes tinged with blood, 
27* 



318 NATUKAL LABOR. 

Stages of Actual Labor. — Th 
labor embraces the time occupied in dilating or 
opening the mouth of the womb; and the pains 
accompanying this stage are called cutting or grind- 
ing pains. These pains, when true, begin very low 
down in the back and extend around to the lower 
part of the belly. They are not constant, but there 
are intervals of ease. They are generally short, 
pretty severe, and not very well borne by women, 
who are often impatient and restless under them, 
indulging in gloomy forebodings, and not unfre- 
quently making louder complaints than they do 
in the succeeding stage when the pains are really 
greater. Persons with a little experience can always 
distinguish this stage by the manner in which the 
patient complains. And it is highly important that 
all women should acquire this knowledge, as the 
woman in labor does not generally require any assist- 
ance in the first stage; nor is it often necessary to 
confine her to bed until this stage is about completed. 
In the first stage the complaints consist in noisy 
exclamations, and calls upon all around for help : 
such expressions as these are quite common: "Oh, I 
shall die ! do help me ! Can't you do something for 
me?" &c, &c. In the second stage, yet to be de- 
scribed, the manner of complaint is entirely different : 
instead of noisy complaints or screams, there is a low, 
suppressed straining grunt, like a person lifting a 
heavy weight. It is difficult to describe these things 
on paper ; but those who will use their opportunities 
of making observations to advantage, will seldom be 



NATURAL LABOR. 319 

misled in distinguishing the stage of labor by the 
manner of complaint. Not unfrequently the stomach 
becomes affected in the first stage ; and there is vomit- 
ing ; but this is rather beneficial than otherwise. If 
the finger is introduced into the vagina, or passage 
to the womb, during this stage, the mouth of the 
womb will be felt more or less open, and during the 
pain a tense, smooth body will be felt pressing into 
the circle formed by the mouth. This is the " bag 
of waters ;" and when this is felt, and when at the 
same time the womb can be felt drawing or con- 
tracting when the hand is placed on the belly, the 
evidence is conclusive that labor has actually begun. 
The "bag of waters" gradually enlarges the mouth 
of the womb, and generally about the time that the 
mouth is fully open, the " waters break;" but this 
sometimes occurs before the mouth is fully dilated ; 
and at other times the waters do not break until 
about the time the child is born. The mouth of 
the womb having been dilated in the first stage, the 
second, expulsive, or bearing-down stage begins. 
In this the pains are more frequent, they stay on 
longer, and are attended with a bearing-down sensa- 
tion, which gradually increases until the woman 
holds her breath and makes a violent straining effort 
during each pain ; and while the pain is on, the face 
is full and flushed. In the intervals between the 
pains, the woman is often drowsy and disposed to 
sleep. This stage is ended by the birth of the child, 
and is followed by an indescribable sense of case and 
a gushing overflow of joy which often shows itself in 
tears, and which can be known only to mothers. The 



320 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

third stage embraces the delivery of the after-birth. 
This is sometimes expelled with the child, but gene- 
rally it remains for a short time, until the womb, 
having taken a resting spell, gently contracts and 
forces the after-birth out of its cavity. 



CHAPTER IV. 

MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

"Meddlesome Midwifery is bad.'''' — This is a maxim 
worthy to be inscribed on the bedpost of every lying- 
in woman ; and it should be ever present to the minds 
of all physicians and people who may be called to 
attend women in labor. In a natural labor there is 
really but little to be done. The most essential thing is 
to know when any difficulty arises, so that it may be 
relieved by timely interference ; but so long as things 
go right, the great remedies are time and patience. 
When an examination has been made, and the head 
is found to present or come down, we may generally 
rest satisfied that Nature will accomplish her work 
without our assistance. Women frequently make 
loud outcries, and become very impatient in the first 
stage of labor, exhorting all around them to " do 
something" for them; but we could not interfere to 
hasten delivery at this time, if we would, without 
resorting to drugs and forcing medicines, which are 
very rarely necessary, and which should never be 
used, except by the advice of a physician. All stimu- 



MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 321 

lants, then, — even u gunpowder tea" — and all such no- 
tions, should be rejected as useless in most cases, and 
injurious in many. The practice of stretching and 
pressing a woman, which is resorted to by some igno- 
rant old women, cannot be too strongly condemned ; 
for it is likely to result in inflammation of the womb, 
and other dangerous troubles. Instead of giving 
stimulating drugs, pressing, stretching, &c, let the 
woman be encouraged by the assurance that, in all 
probability, all will be well, and that sue must trust in 
God, and exercise patience. 

Position of the Woman. — During the first stage 
she may sit, stand, lie, or walk, according to her fancy ; 
and no attempt should be made to confine her to one 
position. And even in the second stage, strict con- 
finement to bed is not necessary until the pains be- 
come strongly bearing down, and the head of the 
child begins to press upon and push out the soft parts. 
When the head is thus felt, or when the pains are 
very strong and forcing, it is best for the woman to 
take her bed lying on her back, with the knees drawn 
up. Many women have a notion that they cannot be 
delivered lying down, and that they must sit up. This 
is a practice that is very objectionable ; for women 
who are weakly, or who are predisposed to flooding, 
or falling of the womb, are much more liable to acci- 
dents when delivered sitting up. The notion above 
alluded to should therefore, as far as possible, be 
resisted. 

Making the Bed. — A mattress should always be 
preferred to a feather-bed. Over the mattress several 
folds of cloth, or old quilts should be placed, so that 

X 



322 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

they will be under the hips ; to receive the discharges. 
Another plan is to double the mattress, and turn it 
back, letting the hips rest on some quilts, doubled, 
and placed on the mat or sacking-bottom. This pro- 
tects the bedding more effectually, but it is objectiona- 
ble, because it requires the removal of the woman 
soon after delivery, when it is desirable that she should 
rest quietly. When a piece of oil -cloth, or a nicely- 
tanned skin, is placed beneath the quilts, it affords an 
excellent protection, while the whole can be removed 
by simply raising the hips. The bedstead should be 
so placed that there will be no difficulty in passing 
round it to give any assistance that may be necessary ; 
and it should be so arranged that it will be convenient 
to use the right hand. 

The Chamber Diet, Drinks, &c. — So numerous 
are the errors connected with the management of lying- 
in women, that we can scarcely lay down a single rule 
without coming in direct contact with some foolish 
popular absurdity, or some destructive custom which 
has been sanctified by age, and transmitted, with un- 
wavering confidence, from generation to generation. 
One of the greatest and most prevalent of these errors 
is keeping lying-in women too close. Thousands of 
women have been hurried to the grave through fear 
of " catching cold." This popular bugbear has given 
rise to the ruinous practice of shutting up women in 
labor in close-crowded rooms, and smothering them 
up in bed-clothes. "We would not advocate or en- 
courage any rash exposures, but we are certain that 
women in labor cannot well have too much fresh air, 
and that there is much more danger of catching a 



MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 323 

fever than a cold. The lying-in chamber shonld be 
well aired, then. Another error, almost if not quite 
as destructive, is the fear of debility, which leads to 
the administration of wines, cordials, and stimulants 
during labor. These are very rarely necessary ; and 
as the system is already in a high state of excitement, 
they are much more likely to do harm than good. 
Water should be the only drink, except in cases of 
extreme faintness from flooding, or some depressing 
influence. The above remarks on drinks apply with 
equal force to diet. Unless the labor is very pro- 
tracted, it is best to take no solid food at all, for the 
nervous energies are all concentrated on the womb, 
the functions of the stomach are suspended for the 
time, and consequently the food taken cannot be 
digested, and of course can do no good in the way of 
imparting strength, while it may do much harm, by 
adding to the existing excitement. 

The Bowels and Bladder. — If there is reason to 
believe that there is an accumulation of hardened 
matters in the lower bowels, or if these have not been 
well emptied a short time before the commencement 
of labor, an injection of warm water or warm gruel 
should be used in the first stage, and repeated until 
the bowels act. This will prevent a good deal of 
difficulty and uneasiness towards the termination of 
labor, and when the pains are lingering and ineffectual 
it often revives them ; and is one of the few means 
that may be safely used for making the pains stronger, 
and for hurrying the delivery. When the head of 
the child presses down on the neck of the bladder, it 
often becomes impossible to pass water ; the bladder 



824 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

should therefore be emptied before the labor pro- 
gresses far enough to prevent the evacuation. 

Moral Management. — This is the most important 
part of the treatment of an ordinary labor. Every- 
thing should be done to remove all sources of vexa- 
tion and annoyance ; and in doing this, even the 
whims and caprices of the woman should be respected, 
so far as this can be safely done. At the same time 
every effort should be made to animate her hopes, and 
inspire her with confidence. Only those that are ne- 
cessary should be permitted to remain in the room. 
"More than these would render the air impure ; some 
could not bear the spectacle of suffering without 
reflecting the impress of it from their countenances ; 
others could not keep their tongues still, would always 
have a supply of stories of dreadful cases, and a thou- 
sand imprudent things to say ; at one while, that Mrs. 
Such-a-one was delivered of a monster, or Neighbor 
Such-a-one died with convulsions ; at another, they de- 
livered Mrs. So-and-so with instruments, &c. ; from 
tenderness, or real interest, or affectation, they grow 
quite sad, and lament over the possible consequences 
of the lying-in ; and whisper, or talk in a low tone, 
or at least they sit gloomy and silent, and merely 
throw a furtive glance of pity towards the woman in 
labor, who, as she is almost always disposed to make 
an evil interpretation of all that is said and done about 
her, every moment looks for her sentence of death in 
remarks only half-heard, in gestures, or in the expres- 
sion of sadness and compassion she observes in her 
attendants." Who has not witnessed scenes similar 
to the one so graphically described by the celebrated 



MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 325 

French writer, Yelpeau ? And who can estimate the 
harm that has been done in this way ? In our efforts 
to inspire confidence we should carefully guard against 
rash and delusive promises : instead of telling a wo- 
man in labor that she will certainly be delivered by a 
certain time, she should be assured (when this can be 
done) that " all is right," and that she will, in all 
probability, be safely and speedily delivered. This 
course will prevent disappointment and loss of confi- 
dence. 

Assistance in the Last Stage. — We will now 
suppose that the first stage of labor is completed, that 
the mouth of the womb is fully open, that the pains 
are strong, and " bearing down," and that the head 
of the child is beginning to swell out the soft parts 
of the mother. What is now to be done? Most 
writers direct that the perineum, or space between the 
front and back passage, should be supported by press- 
ing it up with the hand. This, when done properly, 
is doubtless beneficial, and tends to prevent that dis- 
tressing accident known as rupture, or tearing of the 
perineum. But at the same time it is rather a delicate 
little operation, and if not properly performed is more 
likely to cause than to prevent the accident mentioned. 
We cannot, therefore, advise unskillful persons to resort 
to this manoeuvre. We can, however, suggest a plan 
that we have found to be as good, and perhaps better, 
while it can be practiced without the least difficulty 
or risk. This is simply to place the hand beneath the 
buttocks, as close to the point of the backbone as pos- 
sible, and then to press the buttocks together. This draws 
the skin around from towards the hips, and by giving 
28 



326 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

more room, of course lessens the danger of a rup- 
ture. Nothing more is necessary during this stage, 
unless it is to hold the patient's hands, and encourage 
and assist her in her bearing-down efforts. But she 
should never be encouraged to make these efforts 
until she feels a strong desire to do so, and as soon as 
the pain ceases she should desist from all effort and 
rest until the pain comes on again. Many women 
exhaust themselves in fruitless efforts by disregarding 
these rules, and they are often induced to do so 
by ignorant attendants. When the head of the child 
is born, it should be held in the hand until the body 
is expelled, but no attempt should be made to twist it 
round in any way ; it should simply be held gently 
up, while it is allowed to turn in any direction it 
will. 

Management of the Child. — When the child is 
born the cord may be cut and tied immediately, pro- 
vided the little stranger cries lustily. But should it 
appear feeble, or should it not breathe, it should 
remain united to the mother by the cord, and the 
hand should be wet in cold water and slapped on the 
back and breast, and a little water may be sprinkled 
in the child's face. Should these measures not suc- 
ceed in restoring it, the nose of the child should be 
held, while the mouth of the attendant is applied to 
its mouth, and then the breath should be blown in 
pretty strongly once or twice into its mouth. As 
soon as the breath is blown in, in this way, the mouth 
should be removed from the child's mouth so as to 
give it a chance to breathe out. We have succeeded, 
by the persevering application of these means, in 



MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 327 

restoring children who showed no sign of life for a 
half-hour or more after birth. The cord should be tied 
about two inches from the navel, and then another 
tie should be made far enough from this to allow a 
division of the cord between the two. This division 
should be made with a pair of scissors, and then 
the child should be placed in a fold of cloth and 
removed. 

Delivery of the After-birth. — After the birth 
of the child, the next thing requiring attention is the 
delivery of the after-birth. This is not generally 
attended with any difficulty; and yet many women 
have been ruined for life by rashness and ignorance 
in finishing this the last part of labor. In delivering 
the after-birth, the rule is, never to pull at the cord 
u?iless the woman has some pain and hearing -down, and 
the luomb can be felt contracting when the hand is placed 
on the lower part of the belly. The only exception to 
this rule is when the after-birth can be plainly felt in 
the vagina outside the mouth of the womb. "When 
this is the case it may be removed without waiting 
for a pain. When the womb contracts it may be 
plainly felt by placing the hand on the skin over the 
womb, and it feels very much like the head of a 
child. This contraction generally comes on within 
an hour after the birth of the child, and very often 
within fifteen minutes. "While it is on, one hand 
should be gently pressed on the outside over the 
womb, while the other hand draws as gently on the 
cord. As soon as the pain goes off, the pulling should 
cease until another comes on. After waiting from 
fifteen minutes to half an hour from the birth of the 



328 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

child, if the womb does not contract, or in other 
words if there is no pain, the hand may be wet in 
cold water, and applied suddenly to the skin over the 
lower part of the belly. This will in all probability 
cause contractions, when the after-birth may be safely 
removed. It is well for women to know the dangers 
to which they are exposed from imprudent and 
forcible attempts to pull away the after-birth, and 
especially when the womb is not contracted. The 
principal of these are inversion or turning of the 
womb wrong side out, and falling of the womb. We 
have seen many women who have been ruined beyond 
remedy by the unskillful manoeuvres of ignorant 
persons in delivering the after birth ; the least vio- 
lence should never be permitted, and if there is the 
slightest difficulty a physician should be sent for 
without delay. And while we are in favor of edu- 
cated women as midwives, we take this occasion to 
add, that no woman can safely commit herself into 
ignorant hands in any case ; and though most cases 
of labor terminate without interference, yet where 
assistance is necessary, it should be rendered with 
promptness and skill : a single false move, or an hour's 
delay, may prove fatal. In view of these facts, and in 
the absence of educated midwives, it is our honest 
opinion that it would be better to call a prudent and 
skillful physician in all cases of midwifery ; for only 
one of experience and education knows when and how 
to give assistance. 

Who shall be Midwives ? — The above remarks 
naturally lead to the question, Who shall be mid- 
wives? A great deal has been said of late years 
against " man-midwifery" by a certain class who 



MANAGEMENT OF NATUKAL LABOK. 329 

have fallen upon the usual plan of endeavoring to 
ingratiate themselves into the favor of the people by 
appealing to their prejudices, and by exciting their 
passions. They say a great deal about the indecency 
and immorality of having male attendants ; and , 
knowing the power of ridicule, they represent these 
attendants as dressed up in gowns, aprons, and other 
fantastic garbs, which exist only in their own imagi- 
nations. Now, before attempting to answer objections, 
we repeat that we are in favor of educated women for 
the practice of midwifery. But no woman is com- 
petent for the general practice of midwifery, who does 
not fully understand the structure and offices of the 
sexual parts of women, together with the diseases and 
accidents to which lying-in women are exposed. And 
even with this knowledge, there are operations for 
which women are incapacitated by nature, and which 
would still require the assistance of a male practitioner. 
But admitting that those operations are seldom neces- 
sary, and that a male physician could perform them 
when required, still the female attendant must be 
pretty well educated to know when assistance is 
necessary. And besides this indispensable know- 
ledge, it would be highly desirable that she should 
be acquainted with the symptoms and treatment of 
the diseases of women in child-bed, so that she might 
apply the proper remedies herself, or be able to dis- 
tinguish those disorders in their first approaches, so 
that a physician might be called in time to combat 
them before they had made much progress. So after 
all, while all women of ordinary intelligence can and 
should learn enough to give assistance in simple 
28* 



330 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL LABOR. 

cases, it requires a pretty extensive range of know- 
ledge to render one competent for all the duties that 
properly devolve on a practitioner of midwifery. 
And even with this knowledge, male physicians are 
still necessary in cases requiring surgical and opera- 
tive aid. "With these facts before them, certainly the 
most strenuous opposers of " man-mid wives" would 
not be willing to trust themselves in the hands of an 
ignorant woman. Who can tell the incalculable 
amount of injury that has been inflicted on women in 
child-bed through the officiousness of the uneducated 
persons in whom they have confided ! 

And yet this hue and cry about man-midwifery 
tends directly to encourage this great evil; for we 
may say that we have no educated female practi- 
tioners, and if women believed one-half that is said 
about man-midwifery, they would conclude that it 
would be as well to risk death in the hands of an 
ignorant old woman, as to endanger their moral 
purity, and disgrace themselves, by having a male 
attendant in their confinements. The truth is, there 
is a great deal of dishonesty and misrepresentation 
about this thing ; those who ridicule and decry male 
practitioners are generally either connected with some 
medical school for the education of women, or they 
are engaged in some exclusive one-idea system of 
practice, and hope to gain something, in one way or 
another, by making war on the established order of 
things. Many of them seem to be actuated by a vague 
idea that a revolution may possibly turn up to their 
advantage, they hardly know how ; and therefore, 
like the knight of La Mancha, they fight everything 
indiscriminately, while their pop-gun artillery is 



MANAGEMENT OF NATUKAL LABOK. 331 

aimed principally at orthodox religion and regular 
medicine.* 

As to the charges of indecency, immorality, &c, 
connected with having a man attendant in labor, we 
will only say that there is nothing about a woman in 
this condition to inspire any feelings other than those 
of sympathy ; and every true physician is too much 
under the influence of those feelings, and too much 
engaged in devising means to render all necessary 
assistance, for any improper feelings to find a place. 
As to the influence on the woman herself, in shocking 
her modesty, and in blunting the finer sensibilities of 
her nature, there has been much exaggeration. Wo- 
men are generally too much concerned about their 
"pains," and about getting out of their difficulties, to 
think much about exposure ; and we have generally 
found that they think less about it in labor than at 
any other time. And, after all, the necessary and 
unavoidable exposure is very slight, as the eye is sel- 
dom or never brought into requisition, almost every- 
thing being done with the tip of the finger. We say, 
then, finally, if we can have women sufficiently edu- 
cated to render any assistance that may be necessary, 
or to know when to call for assistance in cases of dis- 
ease and operations, why, let us have them ; but in 
the absence of such, women in child-bed will not 
suffer in morals, and will preserve health and life, by 
sending for a man who is thoroughly educated in all 
the duties of his profession, and who can promptly and 
skillfully give any hind of aid that may be necessary. 

* We would not have these remarks construed into opposition to medical 
colleges for women ; for when these aro confined to their legitimate sphere, 
and honestly conducted, we are in favor of them. 



332 MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 



CHAPTER V. 

MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN AFTER DELIVERY. 

HOW THEY ARE GENERALLY MANAGED. — The suffer- 
ings and dangers to which women are exposed, after 
delivery, from numberless conceits, whims, and pre- 
judices, originating in ignorance and miseducation, 
are far greater than all the perils of natural labor. 
They are generally kept too warm, and are often 
thrown into a fever through fear of " catching cold." 
This, together with the pulling, pressing, and stretch- 
ing, to which they are not unfrequently subjected in 
labor, is no doubt often the cause of inflammation of 
the womb, and the much-dreaded child-bed fever. 
Cleanliness is often too much neglected, through this 
same fear of cold. As incredible as it may appear, 
we have known women to go nine days without wash- 
ing the hands, face, or any part of the person, and 
without changing the clothing ! Those who thus 
manage have a stench arising from them that may 
sometimes be detected even before entering the house, 
and which Vould seem well calculated to breed dis- 
ease not mwy in the woman herself, but in all her 
attendants. Women in child-bed are generally over- 
fed and over-physR^:ed. They are required to eat more 
than the natural wants of their systems demand, under 
the idea that thes have to " eat for two ;" and they 
are dosed with all kinds of slops, drugged, sweated, 
steamed, purged, and sometimes puked and bled, with 
the view of regulating the milk and the " cleansings." 



MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 333 

Asa part of the physicking routine, they must have a 
dose of salts or oil on the day of confinement, or the 
day after, by all means, and as a matter of course. 
On the second or third day they must have another 
dose of salts for the milk-fever, caused by the over- 
eating ; and a few days after this they will, in all pro- 
bability, be subjected to a dosing or steaming, to bring 
back the "discharges," which have been checked 
by mismanagement, and so on to the end of the 
chapter. Now, with very few exceptions, this is all 
wrong ; if women will live right, and follow the rules 
of health, before confinement, and those now to be 
given, they will find that they can get along much 
better, and have a much better "getting up" without 
all this drugging and dosing. 

Directions for Women after Delivery. — The 
thing first needed by a woman, after the anxiety and 
fatigue to which she has been subjected, is rest. Just 
so soon as the worst-soiled things can be removed, and 
a bandage can be applied to the abdomen, she should 
be allowed to remain perfectly quiet, and to sleep, if 
she will. She may lie in any position that she pre- 
fers ; it is all stuff about confining a woman to her 
back, or either side. In cases of great exhaustion, 
the removal of the soiled things, and the application 
of the bandage, should be delayed until the system 
rallies ; and in all cases it is better to defer making 
any great changes in the clothing for a day or so after 
delivery. The object is not to guard against "cold," 
but against unnecessary fatigue and exertion. A few 
words as to the bandage : — this is designed to insure 
a firm contraction of the womb, and thus to avoid all 
danger of flooding, while it affords comfortable sup- 



334 MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 

port to the muscles of the abdomen, and tends to pre- 
vent "pendulous belly," or a loose, flabby, wrinkled 
condition of the abdomen. Some writers deny that 
the bandage will accomplish these ends, but we are 
satisfied that it has its advantages, and as it can do no 
harm when properly applied, we recommend it to our 
readers. It may be made simply of a strip of home- 
spun or cotton jeans, about half a yard wide ; or, 
what is better, it may be prepared beforehand, by 
making it with gores in the bottom, so that it may fit 
over the hips. This prevents the slipping up, which 
is one of the greatest difficulties in using the band- 
age. This difficulty may be effectually overcome by 
having a strip or roll of cloth to pass between the 
legs, and fasten to the bandage before and behind. 
The bandage, having been thus prepared, should be 
applied over the womb, and a folded towel or piece 
of cloth should be placed under the bandage, and 
immediately over the womb, so as to compress it. The 
bandage should not be applied tight enough to feel 
uncomfortable, but just so as to afford moderate and 
comfortable support. After what has been said about 
air, it is hardly necessary to say that a lying-in wo- 
man should have " plenty of it." The room should be 
well aired, but at the same time strong currents should 
be avoided ; because such exposures might injure any 
one, and not because women recently delivered are 
necessarily more susceptible of cold than others. 
The bed-clothing should not be too heavy ; oppress- 
ing women in child-bed with an excessive weight of 
covering is a great evil, arising from the destructive 
fear of " cold." Cleanliness is absolutely essential to 



MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 335 

the health and comfort of lying-in women. Except 
in cases of flooding, &c, there is no necessity for the 
cold injections and the cold bandages, nsed so freely 
by the Hydropaths; yet cold water may be safely 
used for washing the face and hands, and tepid injec- 
tions into the vagina, and even tepid or lukewarm 
hip-baths may be resorted to in ordinary cases, not 
only without injury, but with advantage. But whe- 
ther you use the hip-bath and injections or not, at 
any rate keep clean, by washing with water slightly 
warm. The diet of women in child-bed should be 
rather light, but nourishing. Until the secretion of 
milk is fully established, and all excitement from that 
cause has passed oft) the diet should be rather dry, 
consisting of corn-bread, rice, dry toast, crackers, 
hominy, &c. And whether a very dry diet be used 
from the beginning or not, it should be adopted with- 
out delay, if the breasts seem likely to secrete more 
milk than the child can draw off. In cases where the 
milk is scant, or where all excitement from this secre- 
tion has passed off, milk, water, gruel, chocolate, and 
hot-water tea may be added to the diet. But in our 
opinion the less that lying-in women have to do with 
coffee and " store tea" the better. 

Now, as to the physicking, we have this to say : As 
a general rule, the less the better. It is all a mistake to 
suppose that the bowels must be moved very soon 
after delivery. The lower bowel is often somewhat 
paralyzed from the pressure to which it has been sub- 
jected, and it requires time to recover its tone. The 
bowels should be attended to, and kept regular during 
pregnancy by a proper diet, and they should be well 



336 MANAGEMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 

emptied just before or during labor, by the use of 
warm-water injections, unless they act sufficiently of 
themselves, which they are very apt to do. When 
thus managed, there will be no occasion to use any 
means to move the bowels sooner than the second day 
after delivery; and then simple injections only, of 
warm water, or warm soap-suds, should be used. These 
should be repeated every hour or so, until " some- 
thing comes away," or until they fail to empty the 
bowels, which will not often be the case. Should a 
persevering use of these measures fail, then a dose of 
salts, oil, or rhubarb may be taken, but there need be 
no great hurry about resorting to these, unless there 
is feverishness, uneasiness about the bowels, or some- 
thing requiring their early evacuation. The objec- 
tions to the too early use of purgatives are these : the 
getting up and the irritation of the bowels may give 
rise to fainting, flooding, piles, and falling of the womb, 
while there can be no possible advantage, as an offset 
to these dangers, except in some cases of disease ; 
and in such cases as these the advice of a physician 
should be sought. 

HOW LONG SHOULD A "WOMAN REMAIN IN BED ? — 

This will vary according to circumstances. It is all 
a notion that a woman must lie up just so many days 
or weeks ; some may get up safely the day after deli- 
very, and others would run a risk to get up when 
"the month" is out. As a general thing, healthy, 
hearty women may be up and about before a month 
is half out, but all useless risks should be avoided. 
Whenever there is a feeling of giving way, as if some- 
thing were "about to drop down," after being on the 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 387 

feet, the woman should return to her bed; and all 
attempts at walking should be made gradually and 
cautiously. This is more particularly necessary in 
those who have been troubled before confinement 
with " whites," and falling of the womb. 



CHAPTER VI. 

SOME OF THE DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS OF LABOR 
AND CHILD-BED. 

It is not the design of this work to give instruction 
as to the management of all the difficulties and com- 
plications that may arise in labor and child-bed; 
many of these can be safely intrusted only to those 
who are thoroughly educated, and no others should 
be allowed to attempt any of the more difficult opera- 
tions in midwifery. But accidents often happen which 
might prove fatal before assistance could be obtained, 
and fortunately many of these can be safely committed 
to domestic management, at least for a time, until 
other aid can be procured. Of such we shall briefly 
treat. 

Flooding. — This accident may occur before con- 
finement, before the birth of the child, after the birth 
of the child and before the delivery of the after-birth, 
or after the child and after-birth have both been deli- 
vered. 

The symptoms of flooding are a free discharge of 
29 Y 



338 DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

blood from the vagina, paleness of the face, weak and 
quick pulse, faintness, swimming in the head, noises 
in the ears, weakness of the stomach, &c, &c. 

Treatment. — There are some remedies that are 
adapted to all cases of flooding, while additional 
means are necessary under certain circumstances. 
All cases may be safely treated on the plan directed 
in miscarriage. The woman should be confined to 
bed, or rather to a mattress; the room should be cool, 
airy, and quiet. The drinks should be cold and acid ; 
in short, all the remedies prescribed in miscarriage 
are appropriate ; the tampon or plug should be used 
without hesitation, if cold cloths and all other reme- 
dies fail. Should the flooding continue, and should 
the symptoms be alarming, a physician should be 
called without delay, for in some cases the flooding 
can be checked only by hastening the delivery of the 
child, or after-birth, as the case may be. The after- 
birth sometimes grows over the mouth of the womb ; 
in such cases as these, nothing can avail but the skill 
of a physician. 

Wrong Presentations, or Cross-births. — When- 
ever it is discovered that the cord comes down 
first, or that any part of the child presents except the 
head, a physician should be called without delay. 
Foot, knee, and breech presentations are not necessarily 
dangerous to the mother, but there is great danger 
that the child will be lost for want of breath, before 
the head can be delivered, after the body is born, 
and the circulation between the mother and child is 
arrested. Therefore, these cases are no exception to 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 339 

the rule, send for a physician whenever any part of the 
child comes down first, except the head. 

Convulsions, ok "Fits." — These are among the 
most frightful and dangerous complications of labor ; 
and as their treatment should always be committed to 
a skillful physician, we only refer to what has been 
said in the chapter on "Diseases of Pregnancy." 
Until a physician can be obtained, pour cold water 
freely on the head, and keep the feet in hot water if 
possible. 

Derangements of the Lochia, and After-pains. 
— Any change in the lochia, or ■' cleansings," is often 
a cause of much anxiety to women. But there is 
generally but little occasion for uneasiness on this 
score. Sometimes the discharge stops, in consequence 
of child-bed fever: in such cases as these the pain, 
fever, and other symptoms, will engage the attention 
and require the attendance of a physician. Some 
women have more of this discharge, and some less : 
therefore, women should be governed more by the 
effect than by the actual quantity. Should the dis- 
charge be scant, or should it even stop entirely for 
awhile, nothing need be done to restore it, unless 
there is feverishness, pain, or fullness about the womb, 
or some other unpleasant symptom. The useless 
anxiety of mind, and the harsh measures resorted to, 
to restore the discharge, often do more harm than 
good. Should anything be required, it will generally 
be sufficient to apply cloths wrung out of hot water 
over the womb, or to use a warm hip-bath. Should 
the "cleansings" be rather free, the woman should be 
very quiet, she should remain in bed, with light cover- 



340 DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

ing, drink cool acid drinks, and avoid all kinds of 
excitement. Should this not be sufficient, the services 
of a physician will be required. Any offensiveness 
about the discharges can be prevented or removed by 
injecting and washing well with warm water and soap. 
After-pains are caused by the contractions of the 
womb; and as these contractions prevent flooding 
they are really salutary. Should the pain be excess- 
ive and persistent, it may generally be relieved by 
the application of warm cloths, as directed above, or 
by the use of warm poultices. Laudanum is often 
resorted to in these cases, but it should not often be 
used in domestic practice. The following powder is 
very good, and safer than any form of opiate. Pow- 
dered camphor half drachm, saltpetre one drachm. 
Divide into six equal parts. One every hour until 
relief is obtained. 

Child-bed Fever. — This is one of the most formi- 
dable diseases to which lying-in women are exposed. 
It consists in an inflammation of the womb, lining 
membrane of the belly, &c, and is generally caused 
by some mismanagement, bad habits of living, &c. 
The most frequent exciting causes are to be found in 
over-eating, indulgence in stimulating drinks, and in 
keeping too close. Among the people, it is generally 
attributed to that great bugbear and scape-goat cold; 
but it is far oftener caused by heat, and the other 
things mentioned, than by cold. The domestic prac- 
tice in such cases is confined mostly to prevention, 
which, when properly practiced, is almost always suc- 
cessful, and that is a great deal more than can be said 
of the practice of the best physicians, for the mortality 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 341 

has been frightful. The actual treatment of this 
disease should be confined to the use of warm water 
injections, warm foot-baths, cold to the head, if there 
be much heat, and a dose of salts if the bowels be 
very costive. These remedies may be used until the 
arrival of a physician, to whom the further manage- 
ment of the case should be committed. 

Inflammation of the Bkeasts, and Soke Nip- 
ples. — These are very common and disagreeable 
affections in the present mode of living. The sore 
nipples may be to some extent unavoidable, but nine- 
tenths of the cases of "broken breasts" are caused 
by mismanagement and bad habits of living . Here 
again, "cold" has to bear the blame; but heating, 
stimulating, and excessive handling and eating have 
much more to do with inflamed breasts than cold has. 
To avoid them, live on a light dry diet, as prescribed 
under the head of " Directions for Women after 
Delivery ;" continue to live thus until the milk excite- 
ment and all hardness about the breasts are fully past, 
and have the breasts well drawn with a nipple-glass, 
or what is better, with a human mouth. Dr. Bedford 
recommends a young pup in such cases, and there 
can be no doubt that this is superior to most breast- 
pumps. In addition to this, melt together equal parts 
of beeswax and tallow; have a cloth large enough 
to cover the whole breast, dip this in the mixture, and 
apply as warm as it can be borne. This should be 
warmed and reapplied every time the breast is drawn ; 
and the cloth should cover the nipple instead of 
having a hole through it. This protects the latter, 
keeps it moist, and is one of the very best remedies 
29* 



342 DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

for sore nipples. This cloth softens the breasts, and 
one of its greatest advantages is that it prevents 
the rubbing and handling that often cause them to 
inflame. Should the breast still remain hard, with 
1 ' lumps" about it ; if there is no redness or tender- 
ness about these lumps, then apply the following 
liniment : Take sweet-oil, two parts ; spirits of harts- 
horn, one part. Fold a piece of flannel several times, 
moisten it in the liniment after shaking it well, and 
then apply over the hard places in the breast, and 
hold a warm iron over the flannel for ten or fifteen 
minutes, or until the breast sweats freely. Should 
the liniment smart or redden the skin much, it should 
be weakened down by adding a little more sweet-oil. 
This application should be made at least three times 
a day until the lumps disappear, or until the breast 
becomes red and painful from the progress of the 
inflammation. The cloth first prescribed should be 
applied after the use of the iron, &c. That is, the 
cloth coated with wax and tallow. Should these 
remedies fail (which will rarely be the case, if they 
are resorted to early with a proper diet), then they 
must be left off and the following plan substituted. 
Should the skin become red and the lumps sore and 
tender, and especially if there be feverishness, with a 
throbbing pain in the breast, then take broken doses 
of Epsom salts, so as to keep the bowels well open; 
and apply cloths wet in cold water over the inflamed 
breast, and change them every half minute or minute, 
according to the amount of inflammation, until it is 
subdued. Should the pain and inflammation be very 
great, the cloths should be very thin and exposed to 
the air ; but should the inflammation be less violent, 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 343 

it may do to cover the wet cloths lightly and not 
change them quite so often. In making this pre- 
scription we know that we come in direct conflict 
with the strongest kind of prejudices ; but we know 
that these prejudices are unfounded in most cases, 
and we are satisfied that there is nothing so likely to 
subdue inflammation of the breast as cold applica- 
tions. Everybody has something to " scatter risings ;" 
but after inflammation has set in, the only way to 
scatter a rising is to subdue the inflammation, and we 
know of nothing so well calculated to do this as to 
avail themselves of the direct cooling effect of cold 
water. We have thus treated breasts after warm 
poultices and other "scatterers" had been used without 
effect ; and though the inflammation had progressed 
too far to prevent the formation of matter, yet the pain 
ceased almost instantly, and the cavity in the breast 
was no doubt much smaller than it would have been 
under the usual warm-poultice " scattering" treatment. 
Before a breast inflames, rubbing with stimulants, &c, 
may scatter the rising or remove the lumps ; but after 
these become inflamed, all such things are worse tha?i 
useless, and should be wholly abandoned — while warm^ 
applications should never be used to an inflamed breast 
until all hope of preventing the formation of matter is 
past. Let us be distinctly understood. At first, when 
there are lumps in the breast, without redness or pain, 
then gentle rubbing and warm stimulating applica- 
tions may open the milk-ducts and cause the lumps 
to disappear ; but even in these cases there can be no 
doubt that the breast is often made to inflame by the 
very means used to scatter it. Every one that comes 



344 DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

in has some favorite remedy which must be tried; 
one prescribes poke-root poultices, another onions, and 
so on through the whole list of stimulating H verbs," 
many of which would cause a perfectly well breast to 
inflame. Others are very partial to stimulants com- 
bined with rubbing, and they prescribe whiskey, 
brandy, spirits of turpentine, and all kinds of lini- 
ments, which together with the rubbing and handling 
are well calculated to make the breast rise. Beware 
of these things, and be assured that the rising cannot 
be prevented by other means if the diligent use of the 
liniment and cloth first prescribed fail. And should 
inflammation take place, then there is nothing that 
can scatter the rising but something that will subdue 
the inflammation ; and there is nothing that can do 
this more effectually, and more safely than cold water. 
In using this, the feelings will be a safe guide ; and 
should great chilliness of the whole body come on, 
the cloths can be changed less frequently, the breast 
can be more excluded from the air ; or the applica- 
tion can be discontinued entirely, and warm mush- 
poultices substituted when the formation of matter or 
" coming to a head" becomes unavoidable. But even 
in these cases, if the cold water gives great relief to 
the pain, and if there is nothing to require its discon- 
tinuance, it should still be used in preference to warm 
poultices ; for the cavity will be smaller and the dis- 
charge less. We would not hazard our reputation- 
by giving the above treatment for inflamed breasts, 
were we not moved by deep sympathy with those 
who are exposed to this most painful affection, and 
were we not fully convinced that the plan recom- 



DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 345 

mended is at least as safe as any other, and the most 
certain and agreeable. 

Besides the cloth prescribed, the following wash 
may be used for sore nipples — we have found it to be 
very good : Take moderately strong red-oak bark tea 
three tablespoonfuls, laudanum a teaspoonful. Apply 
to the nipple with a soft cloth, after drawing the 
breast. If it smarts very severely, the strength can be 
reduced by adding a little water. If the cloth is not 
used, the nipples may be anointed with fresh cream 
or olive oil after this application. It is a very good 
plan to harden the nipples before confinement, by 
washing them in alum water. 

Milk Leg. — This is a soreness and swelling of 
the leg coming on after delivery. It is an inflamma- 
tion without redness, this inflammation involving the 
blood-vessels, lymphatics, &c, of the womb. The 
milk has nothing to do with it ; and as it is an inflam- 
mation (though there is no redness), it should be 
treated very much on the same plan as other similar 
affections, with the exception of the local application 
of cold water, so useful in other forms of inflamma- 
tion. From the peculiar nature of this affection warm 
applications seem to afford most relief, in the acute or 
first stage. The local treatment in this stage should 
consist in steaming the limb, by pouring water on a 
hot brick placed underneath the leg, while the latter 
is covered with thick blankets to retain the steam. 
After the steaming, the leg should be well rubbed 
with warm whiskey or brandy; and these applica- 
tions should be repeated every three or four hours, 
or oftener if the pain be great. After the inflamma- 



346 DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS. 

tion subsides, and the woman gets about, the leg often 
remains larger than before, and it is sensitive, achy, 
and easily affected. In this state we know of nothing 
equal to cold water, followed by a good rubbing. 
The water should be applied once or twice a day, by 
sponging the limb off with a wet cloth ; and the rub- 
bing may be done with the hand or with a coarse 
towel or piece of grass-cloth. Should the limb be 
very sensitive, the water may be used a little warm 
at first. This is a safe and a most excellent plan of 
treatment, as we have proved in our own practice ; it 
acts by stimulating the diseased vessels into a new 
and healthy action. In addition to the local treat- 
ment prescribed, women with milk leg should live 
on a low diet until the inflammation subsides, and if 
the bowels are costive they should be kept open by 
broken doses of Epsom salts. 

We should have said, that in the peculiar sensitive 
condition of the leg after it has been affected, the 
application of water is very apt to increase the ach- 
ing, but this is no evidence that it is likely to do 
harm; and the disagreeable feeling will gradually 
disappear, if the limb be well rubbed after each appli- 
cation of the water. It should be rubbed until it ia 
all in a glow, the rubbing need not be very hard, but 
it should be very Irish. 



MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 347 

CHAPTER YII. 

MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 

Tkansmission from Parents, &c. — The Mother's 
Milk. — The transmission of intellectual, moral, and 
bodily peculiarities from parents to children, is one 
of the most important and best established facts in 
physiology ; indeed, this great truth may be read in 
the face of almost every child that we meet, for it is 
plainly written in those features that constitute family 
likenesses ; and it is scarcely less legible in the in- 
herited mental and moral traits of children. The off- 
spring partakes of the nature of both parents, both 
concurring in furnishing the elements of its being; 
but the mother has the greater modifying power over 
these elements, because the life of the child is part of 
her own, until its birth ; the circulation — the very life- 
blood — of both being commingled up to the time that 
the new being is ushered into the world. And even 
after this, when the child has, to some extent, an inde- 
pendent existence, it is nourished by the milk of the 
mother, a secretion that is much influenced as to 
quantity and quality by her mental and bodily con- 
dition, and which must, of course, exert a correspond- 
ing influence over the infant. And the transmitting 
and modifying power of parents above alluded to, 
embraces not only original qualities or peculiarities, 
but extends also to those that are acquired by indul- 
gence in bad habits. The offspring is composed of 



348 MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 

the very essence of each parent, as he or she is actually 
constituted at the time of conception. 

Thus we see, that the health and the very nature of 
the child depend on the health of the father and 
mother at the time that the infant germ is sprung 
into life, and that the continuance of its health, and 
even its future disposition, are greatly influenced by 
the health and state of mind of the mother during 
pregnancy (see page 277), while the same controlling 
power is still exerted by the mother, through her 
milk, after the birth of the child. This fluid is con- 
tinually liable to be changed by the bad habits of the 
mother, in deranging her general health, while it is 
liable to be poisoned by the direct introduction • into 
the blood of stimulants, narcotics, &c, taken as drinks 
or as medicines. How can a mother expect to rear 
healthy children when her stomach, brain, nerves, 
blood, and every part of her body is affected by the 
excessive use of tea, coffee, spirits, snuff, &c. ; &c. ? 
And how can gluttonous, whiskey -drinking, tobacco- 
chewing fathers beget healthy children ? And is it 
possible for a child to be healthy when it is begotten 
by disease from disease, when it is nourished by* 
disease during pregnancy, and when it continues to 
drink in disease during all the earlier part of its life ? 
No, the decree has gone forth and cannot be abro- 
gated, that parents who violate the laws of health 
will not only suffer in their own persons, but that 
their iniquities will be visited " upon the children 
unto the third and fourth generation." For, if actual 
disease be not transmitted, there will be a hidden 
weakness inherited from the parents, that will render 



MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 349 

the unfortunate child extremely liable* to disease, 
while it will sink under attacks through which it 
might otherwise have safely passed. And if the child 
should be sound and healthy, it will, in all probability, 
become diseased, if the mother's health and milk 
should be deranged from bad habits of living, or from 
anxiety of mind, &c. (See page 200.) 

Dressing of Infants. — As soon as the child is 
washed, the navel should be dressed thus: take a 
piece of soft cotton or linen cloth, cut a hole in the 
centre for the remains of the cord, and pass the 
latter through the hole. The cloth may be greased 
where it touches the skin, with fresh butter, lard, or 
sweet-oil. This piece of cloth may be large enough 
to turn up and wrap around the cord, or the latter 
may be enveloped in another piece of cloth. Over 
the whole apply a soft "belly band," but be careful 
not to have it too tight, lest it cause the child to throw 
up its milk by compressing the stomach; it might 
also cause pain, shortness of breath, &c. Some object 
to this band entirely ; but when properly applied it 
can do no harm, and it has its advantages. In the 
dress of infants the three great essentials are lightness, 
warmth, and looseness. It should be light, so as not to 
oppress by its weight — warm, because children cannot 
generate heat like older persons — and loose, so that 
every part may move and grow without the least re- 
straint. Children should not be kept too warm — a com- 
mon error. Many physicians advise flannel next the 
skin; this is objectionable, because it excites the ten- 
der skin too much. As a general rule, it is better to 
have soft cotton or linen next the skin, and the woolen 
30 



350 MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 

garments over these. The arms and legs of children 
should he well covered. The " hardening" process has 
destroyed many infants. What sense is there in 
exposing the arms, legs, and breasts of children, when 
these parts are always to be covered in after life? 
unless, perchance, it may be necessary for a girl to 
display her fair proportions at some evening party. 
Caps should never be put on the heads of children. 

Food and Dkink of Infants. — Our opinion is 
that an infant should derive its sustenance from the 
mother's breast alone, or from the lightest fluid nour- 
ishment, until nature indicates her ability to manage 
solid food, by providing a full set of teeth. This 
should be the rule; and if mothers are hearty, it is 
better, for the first six or eight months, to confine 
the child to the breast alone. If it becomes neces- 
sary to raise a child by hand, the best thing in the 
way of food, all things considered, is cow's milk, 
diluted with two parts of water, and well sweetened 
with loaf sugar. When the milk is thus diluted the 
child cannot well take enough of it to oppress the 
stomach, while it is sufficiently nourishing. The 
milk should be good, rich, unskimmed, and taken 
from the same cow; the quantity of water may be 
gradually diminished, as the child grows older. The 
infant should be fed by means of a sucking-bottle, 
which should be kept perfectly clean, and free from 
all sourness. The milk should be warmed by the 
fire during the day, and at night, by putting the 
bottle under the pillow, or in the bed. It is very 
important to have a regular time to suckle infants. 
They can soon be trained to this, and the advantages 



MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 351 

are great every way. The time between the sucklings 
should be from three to five hours, but regularity is 
more important than the length of the interval. The 
drink of infants should consist of water alone, or 
water sweetened with sugar — hot-water tea. The 
water contained in the milk is generally sufficient to 
supply the wants of young children, but when they 
get older, and especially when they begin to eat solid 
food, they need water occasionally. " Store tea" and 
coffee should never be given to children, except as 
medicines. These drinks produce a very powerful 
effect on the brain and nerves, and are a frequent 
cause of convulsions, or "fits," and "brain disease." 
And yet many children are allowed from one to three 
cups of strong tea or coffee three times a day ! 

Bathing, Washing, &c. — As soon as the child is 
born, it should be washed all over with simple warm 
water, to which a little soap may be added, if the child 
is much coated over. If there is much matter col- 
lected on the skin, it is better to grease it with a little 
sweet-oil, fresh butter or lard, and not try to remove 
it all at first, for fear of irritating the child's skin. 
Children should be washed all over in milk-warm 
water, once a day, and when they get two or three 
months old, the water may be used a little colder each 
time, until it is quite cold, unless there is something 
to forbid. 

Mortality of Infants. — The mortality among 
children is truly startling, more than one-half of those 
born dying the first year. But instead of being sur- 
prised at this, we are rather astonished that so many 
escape death, when we reflect on the bad habits of 



352 MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 

mothers while pregnant, and while suckling, together 
with the dosing, and mismanagement in many othei 
respects ; and there is still less cause for astonishment, 
when to these things we add the fact that a very large 
proportion of children are diseased from the womb — 
that they inherit a hidden weakness from father or 
mother, and often from both, that invites disease and 
destroys the power of resisting its attacks. The 
responsibilities of parents in this matter are of the 
gravest character — when properly viewed they are 
awful: and it is high time for them to begin to ask, 
What has each of us to do with this " slaughter of the 
innocents V For, it cannot be denied that many of 
these children are murdered — ignorantly, it may be, 
but nevertheless murdered. It will not do to say that 
God ushers thousands of children into the world every 
year for the express purpose of removing them that 
same year. It is true, that God may make this evil 
subservient to good, by the wise adaptation of his 
Providence in special cases, as he did the sin of Jo- 
seph's brethren; yet, when we violate the laws of 
health we murder ourselves and our children ; and 
unless God mercifully overlook our ignorance, our 
case is indeed an awful one.* A volume might be 
written on this subject, and on the management of 
children in sickness and in health, but the limits of 
this work forbid anything more than the few hints 
contained in this chapter. 

* For a brief yet able notice of " Parental Responsibilities," and for 
other things vastly important to health, see " Philosophy of Health/' by 
L. B. Coles, M. D. (Ticknor, Reed & Fields, Boston. 1854.) 



MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS. 353 

At some future day we may write a " Home Book" 
on children. In the mean time we trust that mothers 
and fathers will attentively read and diligently prac- 
tice the precepts contained in these pages ; then will 
they greatly desire and highly appreciate any instruc- 
tions as to the rearing of healthy children — then will 
they know of a truth that these things are so — then 
may they hope for the enjoyment of one of the great- 
est blessings of conjugal life — a group of bright-eyed, 
rosy-cheeked, sprightly, sweet-tempered children. 



30* 



EXPLANATION OF TEEMS. 



[Note. — This short list embraces the few technical terms that are not 
explained in the text, and that may not be obvious from the connection.] 

Antiseptic. Preventing decay. 

Assimilate. To convert into our bodies. 

Conception. The retention of a vitalized germ in the womb 

constitutes conception. 
Convolutions. Rolls — applied more particularly to the ele- 
vations on the surface of the brain. 
Dietetics. Rules as to diet. 
Effluvia. Things rising with the air. 
Embryo. The first budding stage of existence. 
Epidemics. Diseases that fall on a number of people 

at once. 
Essential Elements. Those elements that constitute an 

inseparable part of a body. 
Femininity. That vague indefinable something considered 

as a necessary part of woman, for which we could find no 

term without coining one. 
Filtration. Filtering or straining. 
Ganglions. Little nervous bulbs or masses distributed through 

the body. 

(355) 



356 EXPLANATION OF TEEMS. 

Hereditary — Congenital. Inherited from the ancestors, born 
with one. 

Hygienic. Pertaining to the prevention of disease or the 
preservation of health. 

Involuntary. Without the influence of the will. The volun- 
tary muscles, or those controlled by the will, are 
governed by the nerves of animal life — the involuntary 
muscles, by those of organic life. 

Local Symptoms. Symptoms in or near the affected part. 
General Symptoms are those that affect distant parts. 

Menstruation. This has been sufficiently explained perhaps 
in the text. Besides the terms given there are a number 
of others in common use : as the menses, the " flowers," 
a "show," "monthlies," "time," &c, &c. "Most com- 
monly," says Dr. Meigs, " they are alluded to with a nod." 

Midriff. The division between the chest and belly. 

Mucous Membrane. The membrane that secretes the mucus 
from the bronchial tubes, intestinal canal, &c. 

Narcotic. Stupefying. 

Omnivorous. All-devouring; living on both animal and 
vegetable food. 

Respiration. Breathing. Respiration embraces expiration, 
or breathing out, and inspiration, or breathing in. 

Scrofulous. Scrofulous children are generally pale and deli- 
cate, with enlargements about the glands of the neck, 
&c, and with running sores that are very difficult to heal. 
The bones are sometimes affected. 

Sedative. Soothing. 

Sympathy. That relation and connection between the various 
, organs which causes one to suffer or become diseased 
with another. 



INDEX. 



Abdomen, relaxation of, 299. 

Absorption and circulation, 45. 

Abstinence, total, 106. 

Abuse of medicine, 209. 

Accommodaters, 146. 

Adam's apple, 33. 

A dreadful explosion, 113. 

After-birtb, delivery of, 327. 

After-pains, 339. 

Agents in breathing, 47. 

A great difficulty, 71. 

A great work, 74. 

Ague cake, 35. 

A horrid picture, 77. 

Air, 75. 

change of, 87. 

composition of, 75. 

effects of impure, 80. 

how to purify, 90. 

night, 91. 

of cities, 78. 

of public conveyances, 93. 
Ale, porter, Ac, 107. 
Amusements, 201. 
Anatomy defined, 21. 
An important lesson, 117. 
Apples, 137. 
A prize monster, 123. 
Ash cake, 134. 

Bacon and collards, 135. 
Bacon, fat, 117. 



Bad positions, 83. 
breath, 143. 
colds, 91, 151. 
Bathing necessary, 182. 

objections to, 189. 
Bath, warm, 214. 
Baths, different kinds, 184. 

time and temperature of, 185. 
Beans, 135. 

Beauty, health, and mind lost, 113. 
Bed-rooms, 90. 
Beds, fires, Ac, 168. 
Belly, dropsy of, 35. 
Benefits to pregnant women from 
observing the laws of health, 279. 
Bladder, description of, 56. 
Blind leaders, 70. 
Blood, changes of, 46. 
vomiting, 286. 
Body, anatomy of, 21. 
Bolters, 145. 
Bones, structure of, 22. 

of the head, 22. 

of chest and spine, 22. 
Bonnets, 170. 
Bowel complaints, 52. 
Bowels, description of, 35. 

evacuations from, 51, 191. 

looseness of, 2S9. 
Brain, divisions of, 27. 
Bread, light, 12S. 

the most wholesome, 131. 
(357) 



358 



INDEX. 



Bread, acids and alkalis in making, 

128. 
Breakfast and fluids, 143. 
Breasts, description of, 55. 
inflamed, 341. 
pains in the, 299. 
Breathing capacity, 47. 

difficulty in, 291. 
Byron on woman's tears, 50. 

Cake, dumplings, &c, 133. 

ague, 35. 
Calomel, salivation from, 34. 
Canal, digestive, 33. 
Carriage riding, 162. 
Cases in which chalybeates are ap- 
propriate, 108. 
Causes of disease, 206. 
" Change of life," 247. 

air, 87. 
Chest, bones of, 22. 
dropsy of, 32. 

effects of compression, 172. 
Child-bed, diseases of, 307. 

fever, 339. 
Chlorosis or green-sickness, 243. 
Chocolate, 106. 
Choosing a physician, 214. 
Circulation, 28. 

and absorption, 45. 
Climate and Southern women, 152. 

and fat bacon, 117. 
Coffee, taste for, 41. 

a cause of whites, 225. 
Dr. Hall on, 102. 
effects of, 104. 
properties of, 103. 
Colds in the head, 52. 

bad, 91, 151. 
Cold feet, how to remedy, 177. 
Coming-appetiters, 147. 
Conception, when most likely to 
occur, 64. 



Concluding appeal, 74. 
Condiments, 139. 

a rule for, 141 . 
Consolations of religion, 199. 
Constipation, 191, 287. 
Constituents, anatomical and chemi- 
cal, 21. 
Conveyances, public, air of, 93. 
Convulsions in pregnancy, 298. 

labor, 339. 
Cooking meats, 127. 

the worst mode, 127, 
rice, 135. 
Cooling off, 179. 
Corn bread, 133. 
Cough and difficulty of breathing, 

291. 
Courses, time for, 59. 

absence and suppression 
of, 231. 
Cramp in stomach, &c, 286. 
Cramps in various parts, 301. 
Cross-births, 338. 
Croup, 33. 

spasmodic, 33. 
Crowded rooms, 76. 

Dangers of keeping too warm, 151. 
Dangers to which women are ex- 
posed, 197. 
Death from cold drinks, 100. 
Diet, 111. 

animal, use and abuse, 111. 

errors in, 112. 

for the sedentary, 112. 
Dieting not starvation, 119. 
Digestion, effects of the mind on, 
200. 
different stages of, 42. 
Dinner, 143. 

Discharges from vagina, 300. 
Directions for the sedentary, 84. 
Disease banished, 72. 



INDEX. 



359 



Disease, abuse of medicine in, 209. 

causes of, 206. 

domestic treatment of, 208. 

in general, 205. 

principles of treatment, 207. 
Diseases peculiar to women, 203. 

and accidents of child-bed, 
Ac, 337. 
Divine wisdom, 36. 
Domestic treatment, 238. 
Do-nothings, 145. 
Dreaming, 36. 
Dreams of bliss, 168. 
Dress, abuses of, 169. 
Dresses, low, 170. 

long, 177. 

tight, 170. 
Drinking, time for, 98. 

early in the morning, 143. 
Drinks, 95. 

acidulous, 107. 

artificial, 100. 

cold, 43. 

dangers of cold, 99. 

quantity of, 96. 

temperature of, 99. 
Dropsy of chest, 32. 
belly, 35. 
Duct, thoracic, 30. 

Early marriages, 60. 
Eaters-to-make-it-even, 146. 
Eaters, the genus Over-eater, 145. 
Eating, times of, 142. 
Elementary nature of foods, 118. 
Enlarged veins, 302. 

clitoris, nymphse, Ac, 223. 
Evacuation of bowels, 51. 
Examinations should be submitted 

to, 255. 
Excessive fatness, 49. 
Excretion from the skin, 50. 

kidneys, 51. 
Excretions and secretions, 49. 



Excretions, nature of, 190. 
rules for, 194. 
Exercise, neglect of, 155. 

among the fashionables, 

158. 
at schools, Ac., 159. 
denied to girls, 158. 
horseback, 163. 
objects of, 164. 
Exercising, manner of, 160. 

time of, 163. 
Expansion of the lungs promotes 

health, 84. 
Expression, muscles of, 25. 
Eye, pupil of, 40. 
offices of, 40. 



Fainting fits, 290. 
Fallopian tubes, 56. 
False conceptions, Ac, 306. 
Fashionable ladies, 81. 

parties, 165. 

to be sick, 82. 

watering places, 108. 
Fashions, origin of, 180. 
Fatal delusion, 72. 
Fermented bread, 131. 
Fever, child-bed, 340. 
Fevers in South and West, 118. 
Finishing process, 48. 
Fireplaces and stoves, 89. 
Fires, ventilation, 88. 
Fits, hysteric, 295. 
fainting, 290. 
in labor, 339. 
Flannel, changing of, 179. 
Flour, fine, 131. 
Foetus, signs of death of, 310. 
Flooding, 337. 
Food, vegetable, 128. 
I Fresh hog meat, 125. 

Fruits, how eaten, 137. 
[ stone, Ac, 137. 



360 



INDEX. 



Garments, under, 179. 
Gastric juice, 42. 

quantity of, 43. 
Genus Over-eater, 145. 
Girls, how raised, 156. 

should be informed, &c, 63. 
Glands, lymphatic, 29. 
Gravel, 51. 
Green sickness, 243. 
Gullet, the, 34. 

Happiness and power, 37. 

Hair, management of, 180. 

Headache, 294. 

Head, bones of, 22. 

Hearing, sense of, 40. 

Heartburn, 285. 

Heart, description of, 28. 

palpitation of, 289. 
Heat — a uniform standard, 48. 

artificial, 150. 
Hog, filthy habits of, 124. 
Home Book on children, 353. 
Hominy in dyspepsia, 133. 
Hooped skirts, 177. 
Hope of our country, 158. 
Horseback exercise, 163. 
Hot-water tea, 106. 
How long should a woman remain 

in bed, 336. 
How often is the body renewed? 49. 
How to manage the stomach, 139. 
How to acquire a good carriage, 176. 
How to protect the feet, 176. 
How we are warmed, 150. 
Husks, of wheat, use of, 131. 
Hygiene, mental, 194. 

of labor, 322. 

of menstruation, 246. 

of pregnancy, 272. 
Hysteric fits, 295. 

Ice cream and strawberries, 138. 



Ideas, how formed, 37. 

Important rule, 51. 

Impure air, 80. 

Individual peculiarities as to diet, 

114. 
Infants, management of, 347. 
dressing of, 349. 
food and drink of, 350. 
mortality of, 351. 
washing of, 351. 
Inflammation defined, 218. 

of mucous membrane 
of external pri- 
vates, 220. 
of privates, 219. 
of womb, 249. 
of womb in pregnan- 
cy, 281. 
Inflamed breasts, 341. 
Influence of the moon, 62. 
Intense mental application, 83. 
I Itching of the privates, 221. 

| Juice, gastric, 42. 
Jumping the rope, 161. 

Kidneys, the, 35. 

evacuation from, 191. 
Knowledge increasing, 71. 

Labor-pains may be avoided, 311. 
how avoidable, 313. 
not a curse from heaven, 

313. 
slight among Indians, 
&c, 312. 
Labor, natural, 315. 

assistance in last stage, 325. 

causes of, 317. 

directions for women after, 

333. 
management after, 332. 
management of, 320. 



INDEX. 



361 



Labor, moral management of, 324. 

position in, 321. 

rules as to diet, chamber 1 , &c, 
in, 322. 

stages of actual, 318. 

symptoms of approaching, 
317. 

the bowels and bladder in, 
323. 

time for, 316. 
Ladies' looking-glass, rules to be 

hung over, 181. 
Ladies, boarding-schools for young, 
156. 

and ardent spirits, 100. 

bathing necessary for, 182. 

dangers at night parties, 99. 

evils to which exposed, 156. 

unphysiological habits of, 
182. 

veiled, 94. 
Larynx and trachea, 32. 
Late suppers, 93. 
" Laugh and grow fat," 49. 
Lemonade, 107. 
Light reading, 83. 
Light, effects of on plants, 94. 

effects of on animals, 94. 
Liver, the, 35. 

Lochia, derangements of, 339. 
Longings, &c, 282. 
Looseness of the bowels, 289. 
Love, dangers of, 197. 
Lovers-to-eat, 145. 
Low spirits, 293. 
Lungs, structure of, 31. 

capacity of, 80. 

office of, 46. 
Lymphatics described, 29. 
glands, 30. 

Man a mass of little cells, 36. 
Manner of slaughtering animals, 126. 
31 



Marriageable age, 58. 
Meat, frying in the South, 127. 
roasting and baking, 128. 
Medical books for the people, 209. 
Melons, action on kidneys, 138. 
Melted butter, ruinous, 141. 
Men giving milk, 55. 
Menses, simple absence, 232. 

absence with whites, 236. 
chronic suppression, 237. 
excessive flow of, 240. 
stoppage of, 237. 
Menstrual, life duration of, 62. 
Menstruation, effects of disordered, 
242. 
duration of each pe- 
riod, 62. 
hygiene of, 246. 
irregular, vicarious, 
and painful, 238. 
Midwifery and child-bed, 307. 
Midwives, who shall be? 328. 
Milk, how digested, 121. 
for infants, 350. 
leg, 341. 

poisoned by grief, <fec, 200. 
Millennium, physiological, 104. 
Mind, the, 36. 
Mineral waters, 108. 

beneficial, 110. 
Minerals not injurious, 110. 
in our bodies, 118. 
Miscarriages and false conceptions, 

303, 306. 
Modes of purifying water, 111. 
Modesty should not be regarded be- 
fore health, 63. 
Monthly discharge, what it indi- 
cates, 60. 
Motion of spine, 23. 
Mouth, the, 33. 
Muscles, nature and uses, 24. 
of expression, 25. 



362 



INDEX. 



Natural labor, 315. 
Nature's beverage, 95. 
Nervous system, 26. 
Nervousness and coffee, 116. 
Night air, 91. 

caps, 168. 

for sleep, 166. 

parties, 99. 
Nipples, sore, 341. 
Nutrition, 48. 

Nutritiveness and digestibility of 
foods, 119. 

Obedience, fruits of, 72. 
Objections to bathing, 189. 
Old age, premature, 61. 
Organs, internal vital, 31. 

abdominal, 34. 

external of generation, 54. 

internal of generation, 55. 

sexual, 53. 
Ovaries, description of, 56. 

diseases of, 269. 
Over-eaters, 145. 
Over-eating, 43. 

effects of, 148. * 

Palate, falling of, 33. 
Palpitation of the heart, 289. 
Pancreas or sweet-bread, 35. 
Parents, transmission from, 347. 
Passions, manner in which they 

act, 195. 
Patent-medicine certifiers, 70. 
Peabody and Yankeedom, 138. 
Pelvis, bony, 53. 
Physician, choosing a, 214. 
Physiology, life-sustaining, 42. 
Piles, 288. 

Pimples and grossness, 114. 
Pleura described, 32. 
Pleurisy, 32. 
Pointed waists, 170. 
Poisons, how they act, 44. 



Power and happiness, 37. 
Pregnancy, symptoms of, 269. 
convulsions in, 298. 
diseases of, 280. 
hygiene of, 272. 
Preservation of health, 47. 
Principles, hydropathic, 207. 
allopathic, 207. 
homoeopathic, 207. 
Private rooms, 88. 
Privates, inflammation of, 219. 

dropsical swelling of, 280. 
inflammation of mucous 

membrane of, 220. 
itching of, 221. 
tumors and deformities of 

222. 
union of the lips of, 223. 
Providence slandered, 69. 
Pulse, frequency of, 45. 
Purity of different waters, 110. 

Quantity of food not determined 
according to Gulliver, 144. 

Reaction, means of procuring, 188. 
Reading, light, 83. 

fictitious, dangers of, 198. 
Rectum, described, 57. 
Regulating the bowels, &c. f 192. 
Relaxation of the abdomen and 

ruptures, 299. 
Religion, consolations of, 199. 
Reproduction, 64. 
Respiration, 46. 
Rice, best mode of cooking, 135. 

in bowel affections, 135. 
Rules to be hung over every lady's 

looking-glass, 181. 

Salivation, 34. 

Salivation in pregnancy, 282. 
Salt, pepper, mustard, «fcc, 43. 
Salt meat, effects of, 140. 






IXDEX. 



BQS 



Sauce, the best, 141. 
Savealls, 146. 
Seamstresses, 80. 
Secretion, mucous, 50. 

of tho skin, 50. 
Secretions and excretions, 49. 
Sedentary habits, 80. 
Sedentary, directions for the, 84. 
Sense of hearing, 40. 

of sight, 40. 

of smell, offices of, 39. 

of smell injured by snuff, 39. 

of taste, 41. 

of touch, 42. 
Sexual organs, 53. 
Shad, digestible, 122. 
Shoes, thin, 176. 
Sick stomach, 283. 
Sight, sense of, 40. 
Skin, description of, 30. 

office of, 50. 

structure of, 30. 
Sleep, how to procure sound, 39. 

day, 166. 

how long, 167. 

position in, 168. 

time for, 165. 
Sleeping-rooms, 90. 
Sleeplessness, 292. 
Smell, sense of, 39. 
Smoking lamps, 90. 
Snuff, smell injured by, 39. 
Soda-water, 108. 
Sore nipples, 341. 
Soul, the, 37. 
Spleen, 35. 

Steamboat traveling, 93. 
Stomach, description of, 34. 
contracted, 115. 
how restored, 42. 
Stoves injurious, 89. 
Structure of bones, 22. 
of lungs, 32. 
of spino, 23. 



Suppers, heavy, 144. 
Swelled legs, 302. 
Swimming, 186. 
System, nervous, 26. 
vascular, 28. 

Taste, sense of, 41. 

influenced by education, 41. 
Tea, hot-water, 106. 
effects of, 104. 
properties of, 103. 
Tea and coffee, 102. 

total abstinence en- 
joined, 106. 
Teeth, cause of decayed, 132. 
Temperature, 150. 
Theatres, 198. 
Thoracic duct, 30. 
Tobacco, taste for, 41. 
Too many dishes, 149. 
Toothache, 2S1. 
Touch, sense of, 42. 
Trachea and larynx, 32. 
Transmission from parents, 347. 
Treatment of disease, principles of, 

207. 
Treatment, the only safe plan of, in 

domestic practice, 208. 
Tumors of external privates, 222. 

Urine, inability to hold, 300. 

accumulation of, a cause of 
displacement of the womb, 
268. 
difficulty in passing, 301. 

Vagina, discharges from, 280. 

description of, 55. 
Vascular system, 2S. 
Veiled ladies, 94. 
Veins, description of, 29. 

enlarged, 302. 
Vicarious action, 51. 
Vinegar and arouiatics, 141. 

and grossness, 114. 



364 



INDEX. 



Vital organs, 31. 
Vomiting in children, 121. 
blood, 286. 

Waists, pointed, 170. 

reasons for tight, 173. 
Warm bath, mode of action, 214. 
Warming rooms, 150. 
Water, modes of purifying, 111. 

and drugs contrasted, 211. 

as a remedy, 211. 

minerals in all, 110. 

modes of action, 183. 

quantity required, 96. 

rain, spring, &c, 110. 

time for drinking, 98. 

uses of in the economy, 96. 
Waters, mineral, 108. 

why they fail, 108. 
We should follow nature, 44. 
Wens, 49. 

What is disease? 205. 
Whites, 224. 
Wilful violation, 72. 
Willard's, Mrs., theory, 45. 
Wines, cordials, &c, 100o 
Woman's tears, 50. 

sufferings, 73. 



Womb, description of, 56. 

air and water in, 259. 
bath, 256. 
cancer of, 259. 
changes of in pregnancy,273, 
corroding ulcer of, 262. 
falling backward of, 268. 
falling of, 263. 
inflammation of, 249. 
inflammation of in pregnan- 
cy, 281. 
painless contractions, 303. 
polypous tumors of, 258. 
tumors and other collections 

in, 258. 
ulceration of, 255. 
Women should not submit to un- 
reasonable restraints, 86. 
a warning to, 100. 
Southern, 152. 
Would-do-betters, 146. 
Wrong presentations, 338. 

Young girls, directions for, 246. 
Young ladies, dangers, to, 197. 

boarding-schools for, 
156. 



THE END. 




k "7 7 



